McAnulty still has reasons to stay upbeat

DISAPPOINTED: Labour Party candidate Kieran McAnulty and his wife, Suzanne, at their home on election night.

The Wairarapa result was "pretty disappointing" for Labour Party candidate Kieran McAnulty.

"We thought we would do better than that, based on the feedback we got."

But he is delighted to have won urban Masterton, coming out on top in the polling booths in his hometown.

Successful National Party newcomer Alastair Scott achieved a 6228 majority over Labour, a slight decrease from the 2011 majority of 7135.

Mr McAnulty's 8685 candidate vote was reduced from 2011, when Michael Bott achieved 10,746.

However, in 2011 there was no New Zealand First candidate.

Mr McAnulty had predicted latecomer Ron Mark, who secured 8006 votes, would split the National vote in Labour's favour, but thought Mr Mark took votes away from Labour in the northern part of the electorate.

Labour's party vote this year was 7002, down from 8161 in 2011.

At the polling booths Mr McAnulty was a clear favourite in Featherston, and also scored higher than National at eight out of 11 polling booths in Masterton.

Not counting the rural vote at Fernridge School, Mr McAnulty secured 34 per cent of Masterton's urban polling station vote, over 33 per cent for Mr Scott.

In only one instance, at the Masterton IDEA services polling booth, was the Labour party vote higher than National's.

Mr McAnulty said considering nationally it was the "worst result in Labour Party history" he was pleased to get as many votes as he got.

"I don't think anyone anticipated National would get an outright majority."

He said he was not going anywhere, as the party planned for the 2017 election.

"I meant what I said through the whole campaign - I want to be the MP for Wairarapa."

When the party moved to choose the Labour Party candidate for Wairarapa, he would be putting his hand up, he said.

Winning Masterton was a personal objective and he was "delighted" with that result.

"It's a good platform to work off for next time," he said.

"With an expected swing back towards Labour in 2017 I believe I will be in a good position."

He congratulated Mr Mark and Mr Scott for their successes.

"Good on them - I wish them well."

From here Mr McAnulty will be taking a two-week holiday with his wife, Suzanne, to catch up, as they had not seen much of each other during intense campaigning.

"I'll be returning to work with the New Zealand Racing Board, based in Masterton."

He said he would like to get involved in more community roles.

"My interest in Wairarapa doesn't just come around when there's an election campaign."

There was still work to do with Labour, he said.

On the matter of the Labour Party leadership, he said, "That remains to be seen," but if or when it came about, the Wairarapa branch would be active with that.

He said the branch membership had doubled during the campaign.

"We're one of the best organised in the country now."