KEY POINTS:
Election 08 saw a few surprises, and some new faces in Parliament - here are some of the new crop of MPs to keep and eye on:
TAURANGA
Simon Bridges
Simon Bridges was charged with keeping National's seat in Tauranga, which was vacated by outgoing MP Bob Clarkson.
Competing against Winston Peters, the 30-year-old former crown prosecutor proved the pollsters right, comprehensively beating NZ First leader and leaving without a place in Parliament for the first time in over 30 years.
University of Oxford and London School of Economics-educated Bridges, who has been a National Party member for 16 years, stepped down as chairman of National Party Tauranga to contest the seat. He and wife Natalie live at Mount Maunganui.
MAUNGAKIEKIE
Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga
National's Sam Lotu-Liga, who is currently an Auckland City councillor for the Tamaki-Maungakiekie ward and chairman of the City Development Committee, was born in Apia but raised in Mangere. He now lives in Onehunga with wife Jules.
He is considered a leader within the Samoan community and was given the high chief title Peseta. A keen sportsman, Lotu-Liga has played rugby for the New Zealand Barbarians.
Maungakiekie has been a Labour stronghold, but Lotu-Liga defeated Carol Beaumont, who was replacing incumbent Mark Gosche, by 1876 votes.
WAITAKERE
Paula Bennett
West Auckland solo mum Paul Bennett is currently responsible for early childhood education as part of the National education team, and is a member of the education and science select committee.
This year, she was picked by now-PM John Key to the newly-created role as the National Party's spokeswoman on Community Programmes, reflecting her enthusiasm for the not-for-profit sector.
She beat two-term Labour MP Lynne Pillay for the Waitakere seat by 901 votes.
AUCKLAND CENTRAL
Nikki Kaye
A relative newcomer to politics, new Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye managed to beat out Judith Tizard, who has held the seat since 1999. The 28-year-old businesswoman was hand-picked by National last year after returning from the United Kingdom.
She was elected vice chairman of the International Youth Democratic Union (a grouping of centre-right political parties) in 2006, and re-elected again in 2007.
Kaye said she would champion home affordability, the environment and small business concerns in Parliament.
National has never before captured the Auckland Central seat, but Kaye beat Tizard, daughter of former Governor General Dame Cath Tizard, by 1181 votes last night.
HAMILTON WEST
Tim Macindoe
National's Tim Macindoe, who in 2005 was winning the Hamilton seat with over 80 per cent of the vote counted, only to end up defeated by Labour candidate Martin Gallagher, last night put ghosts to rest and won the seat.
47-year-old Macndoe manages the Arts Waikato trust, and has campaigned for National twice before. Other National Party roles that the Anglican lay preacher has hold include chairman of the Hamilton West electorate and deputy chair of the party's central north island regional organisation.
National Party, including chairman of the Hamilton West electorate and four years as deputy chair of National's Central North Island regional organisation.
Macindoe celebrated his win in Hamilton last night with his wife Anne and two daughters.
