'Huge' win for new Wairarapa MP

CELEBRATING: Wairarapa electorate winner National's Alastair Scott with partner Robyn Noble-Campbell at the Masterton Club celebrating the win with supporters. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Most would say it was a landslide for the National Party in Wairarapa and nationally, but for Alastair Scott, he sees it as a clear mandate from the people of New Zealand that the party is on the right track.

As results on Saturday showed Mr Scott had a clear majority over his closest rival, Labour candidate Kieran McAnulty, a group of National supporters in the Masterton Club shouted out their pleasure as the champagne corks popped from bottles.

No one was more excited than Mr Scott and partner Robyn Noble-Campbell who beamed from ear to ear.

During his victory speech his cellphone rang with Mr McAnulty on the other end congratulating the new MP.

Following the result, he was not surprised by the win but was about the huge margin.

"I was confident we'd win but I didn't think we'd do it by such a huge majority," he told the Times-Age.

Mr Scott romped ahead of Mr McAnulty by 6228 votes with 14,913 of the 34,145 total counted.

Mr McAnulty received 8685 followed by New Zealand First candidate Ron Mark with 8006.

Wairarapa voters also gave National their party vote with 17,966, Labour 7002 and New Zealand First 4102.

The electorate followed the country's pattern with National gaining 48 per cent of the vote, taking 61 seats and Labour managing to gain 25 per cent and 32 seats in Parliament.

Mr Scott said people clearly didn't want change.

"It's a good result. I trusted Kiwis to vote the right way and they got what they wanted.

"They didn't want Winston ... it's a pragmatic result. We [voters] have given ourselves exactly what we wanted. We didn't need a change of Government at this point," he said.

"In hindsight ... people knew we needed a majority so the balance of power potentially wouldn't be mucked around with.

"They didn't want anyone playing piggy in the middle." The result showed a clear mandate from the people of New Zealand that they wanted National at the helm, Mr Scott said. "This is a mandate [that] we are on the right track."

Today is Mr Scott's first day in Parliament and he said he planned working closely with other politicians working on local issues to boost the economy, bringing about "wealth and employment" - which meant dealing with irrigation and broadband, he said.

"I can't do it on my own.

"We need to lock in the gains of the last six years and we have just been given a strong mandate from the people of New Zealand to do so."

Meanwhile, Mr Scott's supporters said he would serve the region well.

Campaign manager Bill Knight said he was thrilled with Mr Scott's success.

"He so deserved this. He's a top man and will do us well," he said.

Kelvin and Margaret Biggs said they always knew Mr Scott was the man for Wairarapa.

The couple held the first house meeting for him before he was chosen to be a candidate.

"We knew from the start he was the right person," Mr Biggs said.