Former Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd (left) talks with Dr Shane Reti, and Don Hutchinson. Photo / Tania Whyte
Former Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd (left) talks with Dr Shane Reti, and Don Hutchinson. Photo / Tania Whyte
The red tide has turned blue as preliminary results show National has won two of the electorates in Northland.
However, the nail-biting result of Te Tai Tōkerau was still being contested up until the final hour.
National’s Shane Reti, who was contesting the Whangārei seat, and Grant McCallum, who vied for the Northland electorate, led from the moment the first votes came through.
As the margin between Reti and closest competitor Labour’s Angie Warren-Clark grew so did his confidence in the final result.
By 11pm, Reti was more than 8000 votes ahead of Warren-Clark.
He indicated the new government would not hesitate when it came to a four-lane highway but the Whangārei Hospital rebuild would not be a first-term priority.
Further north in Kerikeri, McCallum confessed to being “nervous as hell” as he had never been through an election before.
However, McCallum’s nerves eventually subsided as he pulled well ahead of Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime and NZ First’s Shane Jones.
Jones burst out the gate with gusto on election night warning of the danger of being carried away by statistics, when referring to early polling results.
Yet he appeared to have a 2020 repeat, sitting in third place in the Northland electorate behind Prime. The difference this year is that Labour’s Prime was runner-up to McCallum.
McCallum finished the night on top with a margin of more than 5000 votes.
The most tightly contested race of the night was between Labour’s Kelvin Davis and Te Pāti Māori’s Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi.
The two battled for the Te Tai Tokerau seat with the margin narrowing to just four votes at one point in the night.
Kapa-Kīngi thought the final result may come down to special votes. Either way, she said, the result would be nail-biting until the end.
By 11pm, Davis had reclaimed the see-sawing lead by 132 votes.
Official results will be declared on November 3.
The Advocate has wrapped up tonight’s coverage of the general election. Thank you for joining us.
10.35pm - InGrant McCallum’s speech to his supporters, he thanked Northland for “showing faith in the National party and myself”.
“The journey is just starting,” he said. “The easy thing is going around saying things people want to hear. Now we’ve got to deliver some stuff.”
McCallum said he hasn’t heard from Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime or NZ First’s Shane Jones yet but “all things being equal we’re going to win this darn thing”.
National's Grant McCallum delivers his speech to his Northland supporters. Photo / Jenny Ling
10.13pm - Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime was greeted by a round of applause from supporters before she even spoke.
Continuing from where her sister and campaign manager Season Downs had left off, she remarked that what happened to her was “downright dirty politics”.
“It wasn’t the general public but some supporters of other candidates who thought it was okay to sound threatening and bullish and racist.
“When I was back home at night I kept thinking about what had happened and decided to call it out. That’s why the nature of our campaign changed,” Prime said.
She recalled an instance when a Labour volunteer was told that she was wearing the wrong party shirt and that “all those Labour should be burnt and killed”.
Prime said instances like that were why they changed strategies and techniques to protect herself and her volunteers.
“On a different note, I would like to give thanks to my family and especially my kids who had to be so patient with me not around much and busy with work.”
Labour's Willow-Jean Prime with her daughters Heeni and Hihana in Whangārei. Photo / Tania Whyte
10pm - National’s Grant McCallum said he was “really encouraged” he was at more than 8000 votes and well ahead of Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime’s 4718.
9.50pm - Season Downes, campaign manager and sister of Northland Labour candidate Willow-Jean Prime, praised her sister’s strength throughout what she said was a difficult campaign.
“You know this campaign was different. The person who felt the most brunt of that difference was Willow. There were threats that were directed and that changed the nature of the campaign and that has certainly helped us get new insights.”
9.30pm - National supporters erupt in cheers when news presenter Paddy Gower referred to the party as doing a “Will Jordan” with 52 seats. There were even more cheers when he said, “they won’t need to pick up the phone and call Winston”.
National's Northland candidate Grant McCallum (left) with Dick Sheridan and former Far North mayor John Carter. Photo / Jenny Ling
9.20pm - Democracy NZ’s Matt King has a “full house” of supporters at the Twin Pines Manor in Haruru Falls.
He said tonight’s results so far have left him feeling as though he has had “better days” but he’s glad he stood up for what he believes in.
King was the National MP for Northland from 2017 to 2020 but resigned from National in the wake of vaccine mandates and Covid-19 restrictions. He then formed Democracy New Zealand in March 2022.
He said if he had “let go of his morals” he would have been an MP candidate for National but did not think he could live with himself had he done that.
King put the lack of votes down to people not understanding how “strategic voting” works.
”Even people who have supported me have gone two-tick blue because we can’t risk having Labour in again,” he said.
8.49pm - Twenty one per cent of the vote has been counted with McCallum still ahead with a margin of 3208 votes. He has7183 and Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime has 3975. Next up isNZ First’s Shane Jones with 3167, then Democracy NZ’s Matt King with 1222.
The atmosphere at the Kerikeri Golf Club where McCallum is watching the results come in alongside family and supporters is buzzing.
McCallum said he was “pretty pleased” with how things were going so far .
“Theres still a long way to go but we’re off to a good start. National party is going pretty well across the country.”
“I’ve never been through this before, it’s a hell of a way to get a job.”
Grant McCallum (centre) with his sister-in-law Ekaterina (far left) and brother Murray McCallum, and Grant's children Eve and Jeremy. Photo / Jenny Ling
8.40pm - The buoyant mood at NZ First’s party in Russell has become slightly subdued with results showing it is back in Parliament but - so far - it isn’t necessary for National to form a government.
Deputy leader Shane Jones wasn’t ready to call it with 70 per cent of the vote yet to be counted. Too early, he said.
Peters is expected to speak by 9.30pm, his usual margin of error to allow guests time to catch the 10pm ferry from Russell to Paihia. With the vote hovering around 6 per cent, the line would be drawn at a place that would shut out candidates associated with the conspiracy theory movement.
NZ First's Shane Jones on election night. Photo / Michael Cunningham
8.30pm - With 20.3 per cent of the votes having been counted, National’s Grant McCallum is 3203 votes ahead of Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime. McCallum has 7175 votes to Prime’s 3972. Shane Jones of NZ First remains in third place with 3163 votes.
7.51pm - As National leads the party vote, Northland Labour candidate Willow-Jean Prime appeared both optimistic and cautious.
“I don’t take anything for granted, given that Northland has traditionally been National until 2020.”
Labour's Willow-Jean Prime (right) with her sister and campaign manager Season Downes. Photo / Tania Whyte
After her party won by a narrow margin of 163 votes, she liked to be realistic.
“That said, I have given everything I had in me and there’s nothing left in my tank this evening.
“I’m really proud of the way I have represented and held myself during this campaign which personally hasn’t been an easy one.”
7.30pm - NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones welcomed guests to dinner saying “we are about to demonstrate the crayfish is not an endangered species here in Northland”.
Pointing to early poll results, he warned of the danger of being carried away by statistics but said “they are reflecting what our leader Winston Peters and the pollsters have been saying”.
NZ First's Shane Jones says a karakia before dinner is served at The Duke of Marlborough in Russell. Photo / Michael Cunningham
With 12.3 per cent of the votes counted, Jones’ 1831 sits behind Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime, who has 2413 votes, and front runner Grant McCallum of National leading with 4614.
7.15pm - Early results show National’s Grant McCallum 1311 votes ahead of Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime. McCallum is ahead with 3078 votes to Prime’s 1767. Trailing in third is NZ First’s Shane Jones with 1251 votes. The next highest candidate is Democracy NZ’s Matt King, who has 479. Currently, 6.3 per cent of votes have been counted.
7pm - The Duke of Marlborough in Russell is decked out in black, white and gold balloons and bunting as NZ First candidates gather to see tonight’s results play out.
Among them is Shane Jones who will be vying for a different result from the 2020 general election when he finished third in the Northland electorate behind front runner Willow-Jean Prime of Labour, and National’s Matt King.
NZ First's Shane Jones with wife Dorothy (Dot) Jones at the Duke of Marlborough in Russell. Photo / Mike Cunningham
Long-time Labour MP Dover Samuels, anticipating the result this evening, said it spoke to New Zealanders response to the campaign waged by the two major parties, Labour and National.
”I’ve seen crap thrown around in my years of politics but I’ve never seen it like this. I think what we will see tonight is a reflection of ordinary New Zealanders who can see through all this sewage that has come out - unprecedented in my view.”
Samuels said it was the first true MMP election in which New Zealanders had turned their back on the major parties with a slew of political offerings from the minor parties.
”They [Labour and National] have to acknowledge not all New Zealanders politics are the same.”
Hon. Dover Samuels and Dr Roz Sorensen at the Duke of Marlborough in Russell where NZ First is based on election night. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Among the guests was Eldon Park, 50, from Awarua, south of Kaikohe. He said he wasn’t someone inclined to political events but was drawn by efforts of NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones to direct funding into Kaikohe to develop employment and build infrastructure, such as the new town’s dam.
Park said NZ First’s support of the forestry industry - the sector in which he worked - was also a strong motivator.
”Just a change,” he said when asked what he wanted. “The country needs to change. We have to get away from this tribalism as Māori.”
NZ First guests tonight will be entertained by a live band and dine on pork belly and beef brisket cooked in a hāngi with a smorgasbord of fresh seafood. Nine chefs are at work in the kitchens preparing what NZ First is hoping will be a victory feast.
To the southwest in Haruru, Greens candidate Reina Penney said she was feeling excited but tired after campaigning in such a large electorate.
Act’s Northland candidate Mark Cameron is at the Maritime Room in Auckland with the remainder of the party.
Cameron said he has been busy on the campaign trail and is “feeling good” going into this evening despite a badly-timed chest infection.
Whangārei
VOTES COUNTED: 25,807, 59.0%
LEADING CANDIDATE: Shane Reti, 13,119
2ND CANDIDATE: Angie Warren-Clark, 5571
Margin: 7548
PARTY VOTE LEAD: National Party 40.4%
2NDPARTY: Labour Party 21.41%
10.34pm - Labour’s last speaker of the night was Whangārei candidate Angie Warren-Clark. She thanked her family, especially her husband for his full support.
“Regardless of the result, I’d like to thank everyone including Emily [Henderson] for pushing me to do my best and carry the weight. Thank you all.”
10.20pm - National’s Dr ShaneReti said it was likely that the government coffers would be empty so the first task for the incoming government is to balance the books and grow the economy.
He conceded Whangārei Hospital will not be built in the first term as they need that time to get the economy back on track but a four-lane highway will not be paused.
9.30pm - National’s Dr Shane Reti said the results were clear that he would be retaining the seat and that National would be leading the country with Act.
Reti said the huge party vote for National was important and part of that was because it gave them the “mandate of the people to deploy” their “manifesto”.
“I said we would disestablish the Māori health authority. I was criticised for that but the people have said they want us to introduce those policies that we campaigned on.”
Reti thanked his supporters, saying as the most senior MP from the upper North Island he had to hit the road to Auckland for the party’s celebration.
National Party Whangārei candidate Dr Shane Reti and partner Yvonne Lyons after it became clear that Reti had retained the seat. Photo / Mike Dinsdale
9.15pm - Amid the ongoing party results an invigorated Emily Henderson stepped up to lift up the spirit of the Labour supporters gathered at Dickins Inn.
“I like to remind you all that this is a night of celebration. This place is like the beating heart of Labour right now.”
Labour's Willow-Jean Prime, Angie Warren-Clark, former MP for Whangārei Emily Henderson and her mother Patsy Henderson Watt, Stuart Henderson, and Whangārei District councillor Carol Peters. Photo / Tania Whyte
She thanked the supporters for their passion and dedication.
“I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. All those of you gave your time It’s been one heck of a ride.”
9pm - With a lead of almost 6000 votes and nearly 30 per cent of the vote counted, National’s Shane Reti said he was really pleased with the way the vote was going for him and the party.
”And I’m very pleased for my colleagues who are doing really well in some tough seats - Mt Roskill, Te Atatū, Oharia and East Cape.”
As it looks like National may not need NZ First or Winston Peters to form a government, Reti said the party’s position was always that it wanted to be a two-party coalition government with Act as the other party.
“And we’ve always said if we need NZ First we will make that call. And that statement still stands, if we need to make that call we will.”
National's Dr Shane Reti watches the election results on television. Photo / Tania Whyte
8.30pm - A loud cheer and cries of hip hip hooray went up among supporters of National’s Dr Shane Reti as the television showed he was more than 5500 votes ahead as 26 per cent of all votes had been counted.
8.20pm - When National’s Dr Shane Reti was asked if he expected to be the next Minister of Health he said that would be for the Prime Minister to decide.
“I would be very pleased if I can contribute my skills ... but the most important thing is how we can be effective for the country.”
National's Dr Shane Reti with electorate secretary Heath Kewene. Photo / Tania Whyte
National supporters gather at the Whangārei Club. Photo / Tania Whyte
8pm - National’s Dr Shane Reti is firmly holding onto the lead with 21.8 per cent of the votes having been counted. Reti leads with 8331 votes ahead of Labour’s Angie Warren-Clark who has 3572 and NZ First’s Gavin Benney’s 1839 votes.
Warren-Clarke’s eyes are glued to the television. She said: “This is all we can do now. Just watch and wait.”
While acknowledging National’s massive 42 per cent party vote, tailed by Labour’s 25.9 per cent, she remained hopeful.
“You never know what’s going to happen especially on an election night. Besides I have received overwhelming support from the people I have talked to.”
Labour's Angie Warren-Clark and her husband Blair Warren in Whangārei. Photo / Tania Whyte
7.50pm - The happy mood in the Whangārei Club where National’s Dr Shane Reti is based tonight was in stark contrast to the 2020 election where the lead in the electorate race went back and forwards between Reti and Labour’s Dr Emily Henderson.
However, Reti finished the 2020 election night with 164 more votes but that was later overturned when special votes were counted and Henderson took the seat in the red wave that swept the country with a final majority of 431.
The National supporters were keeping a keen eye on the television as results started to come through and there was excitement as the early results showed National winning 40 per cent of the vote across the country.
7.45pm - NZ First Whangārei candidate Gavin Benney is with family down the line as he watches the results roll in.
Benney felt “really comfortable with the whole thing” despite it being his first election rodeo.
”I’m not nervous at all,” he said.
Benney was “really happy” with how the campaign has gone the last few months and thinks he has a “good chance” of grabbing the Whangārei electorate seat.
”But what happens, happens, what will be will be.”
He pointed out that he has been “in enough situations to know” that “you do what you can” and the rest just happens. When the Advocate said they would be back in touch throughout the evening, he spiritedly remarked: “I hope you can give me a call later on to say congratulations”.
7.40pm - Scores of Labour supporters have gathered at an upstairs room at Dickens Inn, which is adorned with red decorations.
Campaign manager Dr Emily Henderson thanked Northland Labour candidate Willow-Jean Prime and Whangārei candidate Angie Warren-Clarke for their hard work.
”This night is all about having fun and celebrating the work we had to do in the last six weeks where we had to slog our guts out.”
Labour's Angie Warren-Clark with Northland candidate Willow-Jean Prime and former MP for Whangārei Dr Emily Henderson. Photo / Tania Whyte
7.36pm - There was an ebullient mood at the Whangārei Club where National Party candidate Dr Shane Reti was holding his election night party. A happy crowd was at the club with Reti and many of the party’s long-standing members in attendance.
Former Northland Regional Council chairman Bill Shepherd talks with Dr Shane Reti, and Don Hutchinson. Photo / Tania Whyte
As the polls closed at 7pm, Reti said he was “quietly confident” the results would fall in his and the party’s favour.
“I’m quietly confident that New Zealand is ready to make a choice and it will be about two things. That they want a National-led government and that this electorate wants a National MP again to represent them and lead their concerns into Parliament.”
This is Reti’s fourth campaign - he won the first two before being unexpectedly voted out in 2020 as newcomer, Labour’s Emily Henderson, won the seat for the first time since the 1980s.
He said it doesn’t get any easier.
“It’s always hard with a lot of hard work needed. But when you’ve got the wind behind you - like when I’m walking up Bank St and cars are tooting or I’m at Tikipunga market and the security guards are giving me the thumbs up - that makes it a bit easier.
“Those are an affirmation that they want me as their MP again,” Reti said.
Reti’s predecessor as National MP for Whangārei, Phil Heatley, and his wife Jenny, were also at the election night party.
7.30pm - Whangārei Greens candidate Rick Bazeley said he was feeling positive that the party has “run a great campaign”. Bazeley was Whangārei Greens candidate in 2011, when he received 10 per cent of the vote.
He said this time round he was “hoping to match what we do nationally.”
Whangārei Greens candidate Rick Bazeley with his partner Mehrzad Zamanpour. Photo / Jenny Ling
7.20pm - With 5.1 per cent of the votes counted, National’s Dr Shane Reti is strides ahead of his closest competition thus far Angie Warren-Clark from Labour. Reti leads 1888 votes to Warren-Clark’s 909.
7pm - National’s Dr Shane Reti is joined by supporters at the Whangārei Club on Rust Ave.
National's Dr Shane Reti with Stephanie McMillan. Photo / Tania Whyte
Stephanie McMillan, QSM, is considered the Queen of the Whangārei National Party and is the ‘lucky charm’ of the party.
“We’ve never lost on election night when Stephanie has been here,” Reti said.
But that’s not the reason she hasn’t missed an election night event for nearly 40 years - she just loves politics and takes a real interest in it. She’s worked as a volunteer for the party and paid employee and she knows a fair bit about politics. She has been the Whangārei National Party secretary and has worked with Parliamentary Services.
She arrived in Whangārei in 1975 and has been involved virtually ever since.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping the party, and helping the MPs, organising the scrutineers for the election booths on election day. I really enjoy the whole political process.”
Te Tai Tokerau
VOTES COUNTED: 13,508, 63.4%
LEADING CANDIDATE: Kelvin Davis, 4974
2ND CANDIDATE: Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi, 4953
Margin: 21
PARTY VOTE LEAD: National Party 43.11%
2ND PARTY: Labour Party 25.98%
10.20pm - Te Pāti Māori’sMariameno Kapa-Kīngi said the tight margin between herself and Kelvin Davis may come down to special votes but it would be “nail-biting” until the very last minute.
10pm - The mood is tense at Terenga Paraoa Marae in Whangārei where Te Pāti Māori’s Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi watches her battle with Labour’s Kelvin Davis for the Te Tai Tokerau seat. She is sat with whānau, some of whom are tightly holding her hands as they watch.
Kapa-Kīngi has again pulled ahead by just four votes.
”We are just in it,” she laughed, “were just right on that mark.”
When asked what the first thing Kapa-Kīngi would do would be if she gets in, tears filled her eyes.
”I’d just really bow to everybody that got behind it. Got behind the kaupapa, but stood up for themselves,” she said.
”It’s completely different to the last time of course. The last time within the last hours we could see clearly we weren’t in the game. This time we are on the ropes.”
Kapa-Kīngi believed “the hearts and minds of whānau” are shifting.
“It’s their own sense of Māori self. That’s what I see ... this is our time,” she said.
9.45pm - Labour’s Kelvin Davis has climbed back into the lead with the narrowest of margins - six votes. However, the results keep swiftly changing marking how tight the race is between the two preferred candidates.
8.45pm - Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi’s son Eru Kapa-Kīngi has been the Te Pāti Māori member’s campaign manager and said leading up to today, he has been “exhausted”.
Te Pāti Māori's Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi during election night. Photo / Brodie Stone
Eru said they lost the seat in 2020 by a “significant margin” which he called “humbling”. Since then they have been thinking how best to use the campaign time this time around.
”We’ve done everything we could with the limited resources we could get hold of but we’re proud,” he said.
8.20pm - Te Pati Māori Tai Tōkerau candidate Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi said the support has not just been felt in Tai Tokerau but across the whole nation.
She spent yesterday in Kaikohe and said it was heart warming to see so many young people and Pākehā giving their Te Pāti Māori vote.
A cheer erupts as the polls show Te Pāti Māori's Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi in the lead of the Te Tai Tokerau electorate. Photo / Brodie Stone
8.10pm - The energy is electric at Whangārei Terenta Pararoa Marae where Te Pati Māori Tai Tokerau candidate Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi is this evening. More than 100 supporters, whānau and campaign volunteers have gathered to watch the election unfold on Māori Television.
Cheers erupted as the polls showed Kapa-Kīngi neck and neck with Labour’s Kelvin Davis.
8.05pm - With 17.2 per cent of votes counted, Kapa-Kingi has pulled ahead of Davis by 34 votes. Kapa-Kingi has 3,114 votes and Davis 3080.
Greens supporters are continuing to trickle into the Phat House brewery in Haruru. Hūhana Lyndon said she is feeling confident though realistic about her chances of taking the Tai Tokerau seat from Labour’s Kelvin Davis.
“He’s been an established MP for a long time so I’m realistic about Kelvin and his ongoing presence. That said, I’m confident I’ve heads of family, kaumātua and young people who have voted for me who in the past have not been Green voters.”
Lyndon currently sits in third place with 1338 votes.
From left: Hūhana Lyndon's campaign manager Nicki Wakefield, Lyndon's daughter Keakealani Seve, Lyndon, and her mum Lissa Davies. Photo / Jenny Ling
7.56pm - A slim 17 votes separates Labour’s Kelvin Davis and Te Pāti Māori’s Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi for the electorate’s top spot. Currently, Davis is clinging to the lead.
He previously told media he would retire from politics if he lost the seat. The deputy Labour leader has held the Te Tai Tokerau seat since 2014 when he won the seat from Mana leader Hone Harawira by a margin of 743.
So far, 15.9 per cent of the votes have been counted. However, Labour has a strong lead in the party vote with 46.06 per cent compared to Te Pāti Māori’s 26.81 per cent.
7.25pm - Te Pāti Māori’s Mariameno Kapa-Kīngi leads Labour’s Kelvin Davis in the race for Te Tai Tokerau by 979 votes. Kapa-Kīngi has 840 to Davis’ 746. Green Party member Hūhana Lyndon sits in third place with 261. However, only 4.4 per cent of the votes have been counted.
7.15pm - Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party Te Tai Tokerau candidate Maki Herbert has been leading the party during this year’s election campaign alongside Michael Appleby. Herbert is watching the election results live from home with friends in Mangamuka.
She is going into the evening open minded and said she hoped “everyone’s made their choices no matter what they are.”
7pm - Around 50 people had made their way to PhatHouse Brewing in Haruru to support Green Party members Hūhana Lyndon, Rick Bazeley and Reina Penney, who are standing for Te Tai Tōkerau, Whangārei, and Northland electorates.
Green Party member Hūhana Lyndon (second from left) with supporters from Ngatiwai Kaumātua Kapa Haka group who will perform later in the evening. Photo / Jenny Ling
Green Party member Hūhana Lyndon with daughter Keakealani Seve at PhatHouse Brewing in Haruru. Photo / Jenny Ling
Lyndon, who is wearing a moonboot after straining her ankle, felt nervous “in terms of what might be the outcome” but confident overall.
“We’re set to have the largest Green caucus,” she said.
Te Pāti Māori candidate for Te Tai Tokerau electorate Mariameno Kapa-Kingi will be watching the election results live at Whangārei Terenga Pararoa Marae this evening. She is joined by volunteers, promoters, fundraisers, whānau and kaumātua who have supported Te Pāti Māori throughout this year’s campaign.
