After a tumultuous day, Labour leader David Cunliffe's critics appear to have stared him down in his push to have a leadership contest as soon as possible.

Cunliffe has yet to develop the necessary horizontal management skills to lead the Labour caucus and head Opposition efforts to hold the Prime Minister's feet to the fire, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Late Saturday night, while Labour Party workers were still cleaning up the blood from the worst electoral thrashing the party had received since 1922, leader David Cunliffe was busy on his computer trying to save his skin.

David Cunliffe has emerged from a marathon meeting of his caucus with little to say about his leadership other than to announce two party whips.

An extraordinary morning in the Labour Party's wing of Parliament Buildings and John Armstrong says there are only two words to describe it - absolute mayhem.

Labour leader pushes for early leadership contest but indicates he will not leave Parliament if he is ousted.

Labour MPs arriving at Parliament for caucus say any vote on the leadership should wait until after a thorough review of the election drubbing.

Labour MPs will demand David Cunliffe release potentially embarrassing internal polling results on his popularity to them in caucus.

In Labour's worst defeat in 92 years, the party vote in central Auckland strongholds Mt Albert and Mt Roskill turned blue.

Steve Maharey writes: I could not fault the Labour Party's optimism over the last few weeks, while wondering if they inhabited the same New Zealand as the rest of us.

A former Labour Party president believes Labour's dismal election result will prove fatal for David Cunliffe.

The text of the letter David Cunliffe sent to Labour members, supporters and affiliated unions on Saturday night, after the party's shocking election result.

This election has seen the highest ever number of Pasifika candidates voted in as members of parliament.

Te Tai Hauauru MP Adrian Rurawhe says he's got big shoes to fill - even if they belong to an opposition MP, who happens to be a relative and his former boss.

Labour has clung on to its three Christchurch seats, but is puzzled and dismayed at National's clean sweep of party votes in the earthquake-battered city.

Labour has lost four list MPs and, critically for the party that aimed to have a 45 per cent female caucus, three were women.

Former television man Tamati Coffey's first politics bid may have fallen short, but that doesn't mean he'll be returning to the small screen.

The new Parliament is a melting pot of ethnicities and religions - but one thing has stayed the same, it's a male-dominated House of Representatives.

For the changes in the Labour's rules which David Cunliffe was party to and which he promoted in order to undermine Shearer could end up destroying his own leadership.

Rugby was the winner on the day. Well, Israel Dagg was.

Labour's new Manukau East MP and Parliament's first Tongan-speaking member, Jenny Salesa, says she has been overwhelmed by the tremendous support from voters.

Labour leader David Cunliffe has lashed out at Kim Dotcom as "reprehensible" after last night's loss.

In a frosty and combative interview this morning, David Cunliffe admitted the party's worst result since 1922 was 'not great' but 'not all bad either'.

As National began to slide in the polls last week, one senior Beehive staffer was puzzled as to why.

After months of trying to set the agenda for the election, Kim Dotcom last night saw the aspirations of his political party crash and burn.

Hone Harawira has asked voters to 'hold fast to their mana' against the party leaders who have 'ganged together' against him.

A Labour-led Government with the backing of the Green Party or New Zealand First could mean the return of the public service channel previously known as TVNZ 7.

Mana leader Hone Harawira claims the National, Labour and Maori parties are all out to unseat him by throwing their weight behind Labour's Kelvin Davis.