8 Apr 2015

Peters' Northland margin increases

1:18 pm on 8 April 2015

The official results for the Northland by-election have been published - and show an increase in New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' winning margin.

Winston Peters speaks to media after voting in Auckland.

Winston Peters speaks to media after voting in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

In the final numbers, Mr Peters' majority has increased to 4441 votes ahead of National's Mark Osbourne. On election night, Mr Peters returned a majority of 4012 votes.

Turnout for the by-election was 65.4 percent, far higher than other by-elections in recent years.

The Christchurch East by-election in 2013 had a 41.5 percent turnout, Botany in 2011 just 36.4 percent, Mana in 2010 attracted 54.7 percent and Mt Albert in 2009 had a 47.8 percent turnout of eligible voters.

Voter turnout for the Northland seat was just over 80 percent at the 2014 general election, 3 percentage points above the national turnout figure.

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