Tight race in Tauranga

Winston Peters speaks with media after leaving the polling booth at the Mount Maunganui College. Bradley Ambrose / Getty Images

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has not conceded Tauranga and said he would be making no comment on who would form next government for some days.

Mr Peters repeated his position, that NZ First would initially support the party with the most seats to form a government.

It also would not oppose supply and confidence to that government, which means a vote for or an abstention.

However he said it would not be known tonight, or possibly for days, who had won the election.

He said the election had been "extraordinary" but NZ First had been squeezed like all minor parties, but the votes case for it had been critical.

He saved his only criticism for National, saying he had not been surprised it had not won outright with policies which were not costed.

Mr Peters appeared set to lose Tauranga, a seat he has held for 21 years, to National's Bob Clarkson by a small margin of 568 but he did not mention his rival in his speech, nor give the seat up.

"I'm not certain what the final outcome might be."

Loyal Winston Peters supporters showed little enthusiasm for their likely new MP Bob Clarkson tonight when it seemed certain he had wrestled Tauranga off the NZ First leader.

"Look how cocky he is," one woman said, shaking her head.

"Well, we've still got an appeal."

Mr Peters had yet to appear at the Sulphur Point Yacht Club where early optimism had turned to despair at the realisation his 10,000 vote majority from last election had gone.

One elderly woman passed waiting media at the club's entrance, and declared it a sad day for Tauranga, and a sad day for New Zealand.