Labour's Kieran McAnulty (right) is expected to remain in Parliament as a list MP, but has lost the electorate to National's Mike Butterick (left) Photo: Collage/ National Party/ RNZ - Angus Dreaver
Kieran McAnulty looks set to remain in Parliament as a list MP but has been unseated from his position in the Wairarapa electorate MP by National's Mike Butterick.
McAnulty was appointed Minister of Local Government in February.
At 16 on the Labour Party list, McAnulty said on Sunday morning that subject to final confirmation of numbers after special votes, it was likely he would remain in Parliament.
"It looks like I will remain an MP," he said.
McAnulty said he had received confirmation from parliamentary officials that he currently remained an MP, but that would be confirmed next month.
"I am in good spirits. It's an opportunity to continue to serve the region, which is the reason I got into politics in the first place."
He said until all the results were in the makeup of government was not final.
"There's a real possibility they [National and ACT] will still require New Zealand First, we just have to wait and see," he said.
McAnulty said his team had done everything they could have in the campaign.
"I don't think there's anything more we could have done."
He was proud of what he and others had done for the region during his time as MP.
Wairarapa National Party electorate candidate Mike Butterick Photo: Supplied/ National Party - Hagen Hopkins
McAnulty conceded the Wairarapa race to Butterick in person at about 10pm on Saturday night, and then shared a beer with him.
Addressing disappointed party faithful at Wairarapa Bush clubrooms afterward, McAnulty reminded them of their achievements.
"You can all be proud of your efforts," McAnulty told them.
"It enabled us to bring social housing back to Wairarapa. It enabled us to get the funding we needed to upgrade our rail line. Soon the region will have double the number of train services to Wellington because we got the funding for new trains.
"We can all be incredibly proud of the last three years and what we have done for this region."
Labour candidate Kieran McAnulty speaks to Labour Party faithful after conceding his seat to National's Mike Butterick. Photo: LDR/ Sue Teodoro
The mood at the Saturday event had become gloomy as results came in on TV from across New Zealand, with one attendee overheard saying "I can't watch this anymore."
McAnulty also acknowledged the work his local electorate staff had done over the years.
"They have worked very hard and helped so many people with immigration, health and other things. I want to acknowledge their contribution."
He said a list MP typically got only a fraction of the resources of a constituency MP.
"I will use whatever [resources] I have for the benefit of Wairarapa," he said.
Former Masterton mayor Lyn Patterson was McAnulty's campaign manager.
"It's been a privilege for Wairarapa to have you as our MP for the last three years," she said to McAnulty after he conceded to Butterick on Saturday.
"I know how hard you've worked, and I know how hard your team have worked in your offices," she said.
"I also know the importance of having social housing back in the Wairarapa. That was something you set out to do, and you made it happen. I know when I was mayor how important that was, and how important it was to you.
"You have been an absolute top-notch Wairarapa MP," she said.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air