The dust is starting to settle on Labour's poor election result, with questions being asked on who could replace Chris Hipkins if he stands down as leader.
Hipkins hasn't said if he will continue, except to state he needs time to process the loss.
"What I have said to the team, I have spoken to a number of members of the team tonight, they have indicated they don't want to rush any decisions and I think everybody wants a bit of time to take stock and to reflect on this result and where we go from here," Hipkins told Newshub on Saturday night.
"The Labour Party has been incredibly good to me and I am absolutely committed to doing the right thing by them. I think we need to take a little bit of time, we don't have to rush anything, we've got three years clearly and so we will take some time."
Throughout the campaign, he consistently stated he had "no plan B" if he wasn't successful, so questions have been sparked about who could replace him.
The names are limited given so many have been axed following the heavy defeat, including Nanaia Mahuta, Tāmati Coffey, Sarah Pallett, Michael Wood and Anna Lorck. On top of this, Kiri Allan, Stuart Nash and Meka Whaitiri are also gone after indiscretions or defecting earlier this year.
One name that was mentioned by Newshub Nation's expert panel was Kieran McAnulty but people are questioning if he could even take on the role after he lost his Wairarapa electorate seat to National's Mike Butterick.
"McAnulty, yes, he does have leadership potential and I think he will emerge, although he did take a bit of a punch on the nose in his electorate," Newsroom editor Mark Jennings said.
Barbara Edmonds and Arena Williams were also names raised by the panel, but it's not clear whether Williams will get back into Parliament.
"I think going back to the female thing, progressive voters like women and people like Barbara Edmonds, Arena Williams, they're very good. They're up and coming, so Labour need to do what they did with Jacinda Ardern, look a little bit laterally and try and build from there," said Newsroom senior journalist Dita De Boni.
Another name being branded about is senior Labour MP Peeni Henare. Journalist Miriama Kamo said on X there is speculation Henare could contest for the Labour leadership if Hipkins doesn't return.
But one thing that seemed clear during the discussion with the panel is Labour could be short on options.
The panel struggled to find an answer when Newshub Nation co-host Simon Shepherd asked who could take over from Hipkins, with journalist Mihingarangi Forbes saying all parties should be looking at succession planning.
What Hipkins will do is anyone's guess, but Newsroom editor Mark Jennings didn't hold back saying he should stand down this afternoon.
"What is the point of him staying?" he said, as part of the expert panel.
Journalist Mihingarangi Forbes said Hipkins could hang around with Labour to help rebuild, but she admitted it would be "pretty tough" being in Opposition after his stint as Prime Minister.
Watch the full video above.
