Outgoing National politician Alfred Ngaro will lead a prayer for New Zealand on the steps of the Beehive to mark his final day as a Member of Parliament.
Ngaro has been ousted from Parliament after he lost Auckland electorate Te Atatū by a significant margin of 8224 votes to Labour's Housing Minister Phil Twyford on Saturday.
The electorate loss was compounded by a crushing National defeat at the election, and leader Judith Collins' decision to drop Ngaro down the party's list from number 19 to number 30 in August.
These factors meant Ngaro missed out on a seat in Parliament altogether for the first time in four elections.
But in a post on Facebook, the devout Christian made it clear his absence from the halls of power wouldn't stop him praying for those who remained.
"This Wednesday it is my honour to have my final day in NZ Parliament for this season," he wrote. "I have had an amazing nine years on this journey and look forward to what is next.
"Every day that I have had in Wellington, I have gone and prayed first thing in the morning around the grounds and through the halls of our precinct.
"This week, I am inviting you to join me, in praying for our nation from the steps of our Parliament."
His final dawn prayer, which will be livestreamed on his public Facebook page, is taking place from 6:15am on Wednesday.
Ngaro has been open about his Christian faith while an MP, frequently using his social media accounts to post written prayers, encouragements for fellow believers and invite others to pray with him.
However, his third term in Parliament has been marred by controversy, with his conservative views on occasion landing him in hot water.
The National politician last year accused New Zealand First of "abdicating their responsibility" by forcing the proposed End of Life Choice Bill to a referendum, and compared abortion to the Holocaust.
He also claimed no woman had been treated like a criminal for getting an abortion, and was accused of spreading a "gross piece of misinformation" about Te Atatū electorate rival Twyford during the election campaign.
It is not known what Ngaro will do now he's out of Parliament, although he has previously indicated he may be keen on setting up a faith- or values-based political party.
