The curtain may have fallen on the controversial political career of Brendan Horan who went from a high flyer in New Zealand First to an independent MP facing the massive task of keeping his seat in Parliament.
A subdued Mr Horan (pictured) told the Bay of Plenty Times yesterday that "politics in the Horan family is closed for the day".
His party, the New Zealand Independent Coalition, scarcely created a ripple in New Zealand's political order, with the former TV weatherman polling fifth in the Bay of Plenty electorate's candidate contest.
"It was a very resounding no from the people of the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand," he said.
The party drew 895 votes nationwide, with nearly a third of the votes coming from the five electorates in the Bay of Plenty. Mr Horan received 1153 votes.