'Stunning' result hailed

Wairarapa Federated Farmers president Jamie Falloon said the Wairarapa result, and National's triumph in the polls, was a "stunning" result for Wairarapa farmers.

"It gives the National Party a great mandate to carry on the good work they are doing around fresh water management and irrigation opportunities and policies that are very enabling for farmers.

"The alternative didn't bear thinking about."

He said this was a good boost for the Wairarapa irrigation project at "that critical time" when dam sites were being chosen.

Mr Falloon said he was at a quiz night at a school on election night and out of cellphone coverage.

"When they got a signal at about 11pm, we thought, what? That's almost governing alone.

"It's a stunning result considering a terrible election campaign with all the mud slinging."

Mr Falloon congratulated National Party candidate for Wairarapa Alastair Scott and NZ First candidate Ron Mark.

"Commiserations to Kieran and John - both would have offered a lot for Wairarapa."