Labour's party vote took a heavy hit in the general election but it is claiming to have won back more of the Maori vote.
The party won three of the seven Maori electorate seats and came close to unseating Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples in Tamaki Makaurau.
Labour significantly narrowed the margins in both Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau electorates.
It won back the biggest electorate in the country, Te Tai Tonga, after losing the seat to the Maori Party in 2008.
Labour says its party vote among Maori also picked up significantly because many felt let down by the Maori Party.
Senior Labour MP Shane Jones says Maori are disenchanted with the direction of the Maori Party and its close association with the National Party.
He believes the Maori Party is destined to lose further support.
Overall, the Maori Party's party vote was less than half that of three years ago.
Co-leader Pita Sharples said support suffered because of the dispute with Hone Harawira who left to form the Mana Party.
He says the party is considering entering into a similar deal with National as it had last term but says its policies on the social services programme Whanau Ora and on asset sales are non-negotiable, and it would expect to retain ministerial positions.
For preliminary results in all seats go to Radio New Zealand's Electorates page.
