Ian McKelvie said it took a long time to get his "nose in front" in the race for the Rangitikei seat. Photo / Supplied
National MP for Rangitīkei Ian McKelvie has won re-election in the electorate for the fourth time, edging out Soraya Peke-Mason in a race he described as "much closer than expected".
With 100 per cent of the vote counted, McKelvie had 16,245 votes, a margin of 2423 over Labour's Peke-Mason on 13,822.
"It took me a long time to get my nose in front," McKelvie said
Nationally, McKelvie said it had been "an extraordinary night for the Labour Party".
"We've got a lot of work to do, but I thought our leader spoke very well earlier on tonight.
"Its a very unusual time we're living through, and its going to be very interesting to see what happens in the next 3 or 4 months."
McKelvie said the margins in Steph Lewis's victory in Whanganui was surprising, but that "we win some and we lose some."
"And we've won very few."
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Labour Rangitikei candidate Soraya Peke-Mason has conceded defeat in Rangitīkei, but is confident she ran an incredibly strong campaign.
"It was always going to be difficult, it was always going to be a challenge."
"It would have been great if we did, especially for the people of Rangitikei.
"Anything was possible, but I'm happy where I am."
Peke-Mason will likely enter Parliament on the list under these numbers, and says she will be a strong voice for Rangitikei from within the party.
Peke-Mason expects to travel to Wellington on Monday for her induction into Parliament.
“Relying on overseas doctors to fill our rural workforce gaps is not sustainable."