24 Nov 2008

Graham becomes Greens' ninth MP, as Nats lose out

10:50 am on 24 November 2008

The Green Party has gained an extra seat in Parliament following the release of official election results on Saturday, and now has nine seats in total.

The National Party, who had 59 seats in the provisional results, lose one seat.

The Chief Electoral Office has recounted all votes cast on election day, and counted 270,000 special votes.

The Green Party received an extra 0.3% of the vote, meaning its ninth-ranked candidate, Kennedy Graham, becomes an MP.

Mr Graham says many of those casting special votes are young people who are very concerned about the environment.

National now has 58 seats, losing one list seat, with Cam Calder failing to make it into Parliament. It makes no difference to the composition of the National-led government which has ACT, United Future and the Maori Party holding Ministerial positions outside Cabinet.

New Zealand First remain outside of Parliament and their share of the vote slipped slightly, by 0.2%, from election night.

Dr Calder says he's enjoyed his two weeks as an MP, and would relish the opportunity to return to the job.

The number of seats in Parliament remains at 122, and all electoral candidates who won on election night have been confirmed as winning their seats.

Jonathan Young, who had the slimmest majority, in New Plymouth, had his majority cut from a provisional figure of 314 even further, After about 2,600 special votes were counted his majority was 105 over Labour's Harry Duynhoven.

Mr Duynhoven, who entered Parliament in 1987, says he's weighing up his options, and is not sure whether he will stand again in 2011.

In Rimutaka, National Party candidate Richard Whiteside also conceded defeat to Labour's Chris Hipkins, who won by 753 votes.

Official results of main parties:

National Party 44.9%; 58 seats

Labour Party 34.0%; 43 seats

Green Party 6.7%; 9 seats

ACT Party 3.7%; 5 seats

Maori Party 2.4%; 5 seats

Progressive Party 0.9%; 1 seat

United Future 0.9%; 1 seat

New Zealand First 4.1% no seats