Greens' entry snakes and ladders for MPs

By STAFF REPORTERS and NZPA

Nelson lawyer John Blincoe is describing his rollercoaster parliamentary career as a hilarious game of snakes and ladders.

Mr Blincoe is one of six list MPs losing seats to make way for the Greens. He was previously MP for Nelson for six years from 1990. His latest stint lasted a mere 10 days, but his future could still hinge on Labour's increasing its party vote from specials.

Moreover, the unfinished count in Tauranga, where Winston Peters is holding a 323-vote election-night lead, could again change the result. If Mr Peters loses, so will all his New Zealand First list MPs.

Mr Blincoe said: "I'm not losing any sleep over it ... I absolutely decline to worry about things over which I have no control."

Mr Blincoe has been practising law from home pending a return to politics. "If plan A doesn't work, I'll sit down and work out a plan B."

The only new MP for NZ First, Ian Walker, can also go back to his day job, running his Kaitaia farm. "I'm not too worried. I've been in farmer politics for three years now, and this is just part of the game. You win some, you lose some."

The chairman of Northland Federated Farmers said he had a feeling he should not get too settled in his seat, and had refused a parliamentary induction.

Rotorua kaumatua Eru George also loses his seat, which he won through the Labour list.

National's two losers are Murray McLean, who does not have the backup of a safe list position after being defeated in Coromandel, and Arthur Anae.

Mr McLean said it was too early to say if he would ask for a recount or legally challenge the special-votes result that gave his seat to the Greens' Jeanette Fitzsimons.

"We have only just got the results," he said last night. "I would reserve any comments on that until we've looked in the cold light of day tomorrow."

He had a number of business opportunities he now wished to pursue. "Congratulations to Jeanette. Until you've done the final count you can't count it."

National MP Arthur Anae, who was set to return to Parliament on the list but will now forfeit his seat, could not be contacted last night. A family member said he was in Samoa.