Follow our live coverage of the final election results here
Te Pāti Māori has picked up two extra seats after the special votes were counted today, meaning the party now has a record six seats.
The results mean the party, formed in 2004 by Tariana Turia who defected from Labour over the foreshore and seabed debacle, claimed six of the seven Māori electorates continuing a stunning return for the party booted out of Parliament in 2017.
The Tāmaki Makaurau seat flipped from Labour’s Peeni Henare to newcomer Takutai Natasha Kemp, who won by an incredible four votes.
And in Te Tai Tokerau, another senior Labour MP - Kelvin Davis - has been pushed aside by Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.
Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere said by the party winning six seats, they have gifted NZ First Party leader Winston Peters “the driver’s seat.”
“We’ll be waiting for Winston to ring us to thank us.”
Tamihere said in the last Parliament, the Government had two pebbles in its shoes.
“This time, they’ll have six.”
The Herald has previously reported Te Pāti Māori was open to finding an arrangement with National if it came calling.
National leader Christopher Luxon has previously ruled out working with Te Pāti Māori, saying while National had worked with the party under John Key the current party was much different and there was no “philosophical alignment”.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer told the Herald this remained the case and they would “answer the phone”, but couldn’t confirm if a deal would be possible.
She said that Māori had turned away from Labour as they had not delivered, despite holding the largest Māori caucus in history.
Ngarewa-Packer said they would not accept the changes being proposed by right-wing parties, such as Act’s policy for a referendum on the Treaty of Waitangi, adding they were in for a “disruptive period”.
Labour Māori strategist Willie Jackson congratulated Te Pāti Māori and its president, John Tamihere.
Jackson said while they were disappointed to lose Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau, they can at least take consolation that Māori did not abandon Labour.
He said the party is obliged to ask for a recount in Tāmaki Makaurau, given the margin is so tight, but it was unlikely they would ask for a recount in Te Tai Tokerau.
“Again, I congratulate Te Pāti Māori on their election strategy and big ups to John Tamihere.”
The only Māori seat Labour retained was Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, where new candidate Cushla Tangaere-Manuel decisively beat Meka Whaitiri, who previously held the seat for Labour before controversially defecting to Te Pāti Māori this year.
Davis conceded to Kapa-Kingi in Te Tai Tokerau, a seat he held since 2014.
His 487-vote lead on election night was flipped in the final count, with Kapa-Kingi getting a 517-vote majority.
“I have called Mariameno to congratulate her on the win and wish her all the best in the role,” Davis said in a statement.
“It has been a privilege to serve and advocate for the people of Te Tai Tokerau and I will continue to do that as a list MP.
“My focus now will be on making sure the Labour Party is built into a strong opposition party so that we can hold the incoming government to account.”
Kapa-Kingi told the Herald her win needed to be viewed in the context of the overall shift towards Te Pāti Māori.
“Look at Te Tai Tonga and Hauraki-Waikato, it’s a huge legacy being turned around because whānau Māori, iwi are looking for someone that sounds like them, that are unapologetically Māori.
“Also our young are lining up and sending a clear message.”
Labour’s Peeni Henare said he was digesting and reflecting on the final election results that saw him lose the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate by just four votes to Te Pāti Māori’s Takutai Tarsh Kemp.
He had spoken to party leadership, he said, and Labour leader Chris Hipkins has already indicated he would support a recount in the seat, given the slim margin.
Henare has not responded to media queries, but in a social media video said he didn’t want to get into those issues and would let the “process take its course”.
Henare, who had held the seat since 2014, said it had been the “greatest honour and privilege, truly humbling to be the representative”.
He said he felt he ran a solid campaign despite a “pretty short runway” before campaigning started.
He said there was “much more mahi to do” for Tāmaki Makaurau and whānau Māori across the country.
“You will hear more from me sometime pretty soon.”
Kemp told the Herald she was “humbled and overwhelmed” about the result, which she put down to Māori getting behind the movement of Te Pāti Māori.
“At the end of the day, our people heard the call. They believed, we gave them hope, proud to be Māori and our people turned out to vote.”
Kemp said being out and about and present during the campaign was “huge for us”.
“They voted for their mokopuna they voted for their whakapapa they voted for an Aotearoa hou.”
On the prospect of a recount, Kemp said she would deal with that if it came to it.
“At the end of the day a win is a win. We’re here and you know, I always want to acknowledge Peeni for all the mahi that he has done for our people in his years of service.”
Here’s how the Māori electorates played out:
After election night, Labour’s Peeni Henare managed to get the win in Tāmaki Makaurau, despite first-time politician Takutai Natasha Kemp, of Te Pāti Māori, taking a quick lead early that night.
The margin between them, however, was 495 votes; with Henare gaining 7408 votes and Kemp getting 6913. Labour also won the party vote in the electorate, with 7808 party votes ahead of Te Pāti Māori’s 5297.
Henare has held the seat since 2014 and is a popular and well-respected MP. He held a number of ministerial portfolios including ACC, forestry, tourism, veterans, Whānau Ora and associate minister for health and environment.
Takutai Kemp is a newcomer to the political game, but has worked in the health sector for the past 20 years.
Her profile on the Te Pāti Māori website says she worked in roles specifically for the Māori community, youth development, Pāti Māori health funding and planning roles.
Te Pāti Māori candidate for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, proved she was a force to be reckoned with on the night of the election; when she reeled in 7305 votes compared to senior Labour MP Kelvin Davis’ 7792 votes - a margin of 487 votes.
Davis has held the seat since 2015.
Kapa-Kingi was born and raised in the area and specialises in iwi and hapū health and economic growth, according to her profile on Te Pāti Māori’s website.
“She has decades of experience in iwi social services and governance.”
Kapa-Kingi also has a specific interest and dedication to the health and wealth of whānau.
“This means our babies being safe with their whānau, living in warm and dry homes with equitable access to education, opportunity and the freedom to be fully Māori.
Hauraki-Waikato is where Te Pāti Māori pulled the biggest rabbit out of the hat - with Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, 8825, winning on election night by 1366 over senior Labour MP and much-respected politician Nanaia Mahuta, who got 7459 votes.
The Labour Party does, however, have a healthy election night lead over Te Pāti Māori; with Labour bringing in 8031 party votes over Te Pāti Māori’s 5504.
In Ikaroa Rawhiti, Cushla Tangere-Manuel (10,804) held out Labour defector Meka Whaitiri (7944) by 2860 votes.
On the party votes, Labour (11,052) gained an even bigger lead of 6280 over Te Pāti Māori (4772).
The decision by Labour’s now former speaker of the house Adrian Rurawhe to not stand in Te Tai Hauāuru left the door wide open for Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (11,695) to sweep in as the electorate MP over Soraya Peke-Mason (5348) with an election night majority of 6347.
Again, Labour (7978) won the party vote by 1528 over Te Pāti Māori (6450).
The second upset of the Māori electorates was in Te Tai Tonga, where Takutai Ferris (9426 votes) ended the Rino Tirikatene (7963) reign with a 1283-vote election-night win. Tirikatene had been the MP here since 2011.
But Labour (7759) won the party vote by 3288 over Te Pāti Māori (4471).
In Waiariki, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi won the seat comfortably on the night with 15,890 votes over Labour’s Toni Boynton 4395.
But Labour won the party vote with 9454 votes to Te Pāti Māori’s 7891 votes, Green’s 1158 votes and New Zealand First’s 908 votes.
Concern grows for Hayden Kemp, 40, last seen in Rerewhakaaitu on Friday.