Mr Coffey, who was Labour's candidate for the Rotorua electorate in September's general election, said Labour values ran through Mr Little's bones.
"In the leadership hustings, Little promised to bring the party together and his no nonsense approach is exciting.
"There's no doubt, he has a tough job ahead. Our party needs a strong leader to crack the whip on wayward members, to show us all a vision of the future and provide a voice for New Zealanders.
"Now is the time to focus on holding the National Party to account as they start pushing legislation through, hand over fist," Mr Coffey said.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay was less enthusiastic.
"This was an issue for the Labour Party and I'm focused on working hard and delivering for the people of Rotorua," he said.
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell congratulated Mr Little, but said what Labour did was its business and he hoped to be able to work with the party in the future on issues affecting Maori.
"I don't know him [Little] too well ... and I don't know what he believes or thinks about his links to Maori, we will find that out in time . The Labour Party faces some big challenges including working better in an MMP environment.
"I think it's failed to recognise the potential value of working with parties like the Maori Party that represents voters that it doesn't. Labour will always place its socialist interests ahead of Maori - that is why it's so important to have an independent Maori party in Parliament," he said.
Mr Little said it was an immense privilege to have been chosen to lead the party and to be given the task of ensuring it once again became a powerful force that backed New Zealanders in getting ahead.
"Labour is the party that has always been at the forefront of real and meaningful change that benefits all New Zealanders and that is the tradition I will honour as leader.
"The current Government has shown its disdain for New Zealanders with its attacks on Kiwis' rights at work, their right to privacy, and in its moves to sell our housing assets and its mistreatment of the families of the Pike River disaster.
"It is becoming clearer by the day that this must be their last term and I am confident that by drawing the movement together we can achieve that aim. I look forward to leading the change," he said.
