National victory imminent in Port Waikato by-election

With 90 p.c of the vote in as of 9pm Saturday, Nationwide get together candidate Andrew Bayly has 13573 votes, whereas New Zealand First candidate Casey Costello, the one different main get together candidate, has 2649, a margin of just about 11,000 votes.

Costello has instructed RNZ tonight that she concedes the race.

“We knew it was a Nationwide stronghold however we weren’t going to stroll away.

“We simply assume it is vital for democracy that voters have some alternative so we had been dedicated to creating positive that Port Waikato had a alternative.

“It has been a fantastic expertise. The additional marketing campaign, much more connections, much more folks to speak to, much more door-knocking.”

The marketing campaign has been nice, she stated.

“It’s my residence city and I actually wished to guarantee that I obtained to attach with as many individuals as attainable.”

Labour, the Greens and the ACT Social gathering weren’t standing for the seat.

A number of small minor events had been additionally standing.

Voting closed at 7pm.

Greater than 12,000 folks had turned out to vote with two hours to go earlier than voting stations shut.

There have been 37 voting locations open for the by-election.

The Electoral Fee stated the stations have been working with no points to report.

The by-election was sparked by the loss of life of ACT candidate Neil Christensen simply earlier than the overall election on 14 October.

The seat has lengthy been a Nationwide Social gathering stronghold. At quantity 15 on the get together record, Bayly is an MP it doesn’t matter what the outcomes are immediately, as is Costello, who’s quantity 3 on NZ First’s record.

If Bayly wins the seat, Parliament may have 123 seats – the most important ever.

Former Labour MP Sue Moroney stated including just a few extra MPs will not change an excessive amount of.

“Would not essentially change the best way by which Parliament operates. It merely modifications the numbers accessible for voting and naturally will increase the price to the taxpayer barely.

“In order that’s one thing that ought to be introduced in thoughts when the brand new authorities thinks about how they deal with this for the long run.”

There had been issues over voter turnout, with public confusion over one other election being held simply six weeks after the overall election.

The official outcomes, together with particular and abroad votes, can be launched on 6 December.