Labour MPs who have lost their jobs are speaking out about their party's difficult election result.
The preliminary results of the 2023 election were revealed on Saturday night, showing Labour on a dire 26.9 percent. That means the party will only receive 34 seats in Parliament, far below the 65 seats it had after its 2020 landslide victory.
The final seat count for the party could change slightly once special votes are counted. It's also likely some Labour candidates who are just behind in their seats could pull ahead once those results are revealed on November 3. Special votes have historically gone to parties on the left.
However, regardless, it was a drubbing for Labour - and a number of MPs know their time is up.
Terisa Ngobi won the Ōtaki electorate off National in 2020, but has suffered a heavy defeat this year. She has received 13,759 votes to 19,546 received by National's Tim Costley.
On Facebook, Ngobi called the past three years a "ride". She said she had rung Costley to "wish him all the best for the next three years".
"It's been an honour and a privilege to serve the Ōtaki community over the last three years as your MP," said Ngobi.
"I will not stop serving the community, despite not being in the halls of Parliament. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last three years, and over the campaign. My volunteers and I have left everything on the floor. It just wasn't our night."
Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki, a Labour List MP, won't be returning to Parliament.
She posted a picture to Facebook on Sunday morning of her alongside another outgoing Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta.
"Kia ora - Thank you Labour! It's been a great 6 years as a member of parliament! I didn't get in this time - I continue to be thankful for Labour and the many blessings in my life."
Mahuta is one of the big losses of the night. First elected to Parliament in 1996, Mahuta is the current Foreign Affairs Minister and the Mother of the House. She conceded to Te Pāti Māori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke on Saturday night.
Steph Lewis, who won Whanganui in 2020, has called being an MP for three years "an absolute honour and privilege".
"Naturally I am disappointed, but that's politics. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I've always been driven by the desire to fight injustice, and give a voice to those who don't feel heard, or capable of speaking up for themselves. That doesn't go away based on an election result."
The seat was won by National's Carl Bate with a large 5070 vote margin.
Sarah Pallett, who pulled off a major upset victory in 2020 when she won the seat of Ilam off National stalwart Gerry Brownlee, has said she had conceded the race.
She's in third in the 2023 race, behind National's Hamish Campbell and The Opportunities Party's Raf Manji.
"I'm incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to serve the people of Ilam as their MP for the past three years. My love and grateful thanks to you all."
Soraya Peke-Mason, who was trying to win the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate, has congratulated Debbie Ngarewa-Packer from Te Pāti Māori on her victory.
"Most important of all thank you to all those who voted and believed in me, you are always at the heart of what we do and stand for, the next three years will not be the same, no matter we are always there to serve our people."
Phil Twyford, a former senior Labour minister, is currently behind in his seat of Te Atatū - but only by 30 votes. It's possible that he wins the seat when the special votes are counted.
"Well that was a tough night for Labour. We well and truly got sent a message by the electorate. We now have a job ahead of us to reflect, regroup and rebuild. But I take heart at moments like this in the thought that we are a movement with long roots in this country," he said.
"Our values of equality, fairness, building community and being a force for good in the world, they endure and they are more important than the ups and downs of the electoral cycle. Te Atatū is on a knife edge - the preliminary count has me 30 votes behind my opponent. It is going to be a nail biting 12 days until special and overseas votes are announced."
Vanushi Walters, who has lost Upper Harbour to National, called it an "enormous privilege" to be a MP for the past three years. She said she had rung victor Cameron Brewer to congratulate him.
"These last three years I've had the privilege of serving and celebrating small and sometimes big wins for people in relation to immigration, housing and other matters. I've sat with people and shared intimate moments of grief with some who lost or were separated from family members or who were struggling through dark places."
Angie Warren-Clark, who was first elected to Parliament in 2017 as a List MP, has conceded in Whangārei but said it is "game on for 2026".
"To all my Labour team and family, thank you for your utter dedication to our values and your support of me. It's not the result we wanted, but ultimately democracy was the winner on the day.
"I conceded to Dr Shane Reti, and offered my sincere congratulations last night. He was gracious as always, and we agreed that we played the ball, not the person - the best kind of contest there is!"
Grant Robertson, who will remain in Parliament as a List MP, has posted about the apparent losses of Ibrahim Omer in Wellington Central and Fleur Fitzsimons in Rongotai.
"I am proud of what we have done over the last six years. As Chippy said, we put people first, and fought to not leave anyone behind.
"I put the pictures of Ibrahim and Fleur (who still can wait on specials) and their teams in here because I am equally gutted for them and proud of them. They are both superb human beings, who have given so much to our movement and to Wellington. And they will again in the future."
National will lose a few MPs - Simon O'Connor in Tamaki, Harete Hipango in Te Tai Hauāuru and Michael Woodhouse in Dunedin.
Woodhouse, who took his name off the List after getting a disappointing ranking, said National's result was "great".
"Yesterday's election marks the end of my time as the National List MP based in Dunedin. Thank you for the tremendous support I have received over the past 15 years. It has been the greatest privilege to represent you in Parliament," he said.
"The best part of my role has been the ability to assist so many people. There is nothing more rewarding than being able to achieve a positive outcome on challenging issues, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to assist in this way."
Meka Whaitiri, the former Labour MP who then defected to Te Pāti Māori and lost Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, congratulated the winner Cushla Tangaere-Manuel.
"The electorate has spoken. Sincere best wishes to her and her whanau.
CONGRATULATIONS to our Te Pāti Maori movement - taking four of the seven Maori seats, one with our youngest candidate, with two waiting special votes …. is real."
She said she was signing off as she wouldn't get into Parliament on the List
"But like I said the movement is bigger than any individual. What the future holds for me is yet to be determined but I appreciate the kind words I have received."
Labour leader Chris Hipkins conceded the election on Saturday night, telling supporters he was disappointed but "gave it his all".
"Thank you for everything you have done over these last six weeks. We have run the biggest ground campaign knocking on doors and calling people on phones that we have ever run. Unfortunately the results tonight show that wasn't enough," Hipkins said.
"The result tonight is not one any of us wanted but I want you to be proud of what we have achieved in the past six years. Despite governing through some of the biggest challenges our country has ever faced we kept moving forward and we protected those who needed help the most."
Hipkins pledged to "keep fighting for working people because that is our future".
He also acknowledged the Labour MPs who have served New Zealand but won't be returning to Parliament.
