"My analogy is, I'm like the pilot of an aeroplane. I might be the front guy, but without every single person, it'd never get off the ground. So what we did is we worked really, really hard and we finally returned it."
He said he was relieved, and humbled that the people of Napier had given him their vote.
Although he was relieved to retain his seat, he said he was also proud to have increased Labour's party vote in Napier.
"We really grew our party vote here. Holding the seat was important, but we really wanted to increase that party vote."
The margin narrowed for National's party votes in Napier, with a lead of less than 10 per cent over Labour - a much smaller margin than in the 2014 election.
National has been growing its party vote in the coastal electorate steadily over the last six elections.
He also told those gathered not to be "too disheartened" by Labour's apparent loss to National in the nationwide party vote.
As of last night, he was still optimistic that Labour's vote could grow - with special, and Maori votes yet to be counted.
"There's a whole lot more to play out before the government is decided, there really is. Before that happens, I've got a long list of things I promised Sarah [Nash] I'd do."
He also praised Labour leader Jacinda Ardern for bringing the party back "from the brink of oblivion".
Meanwhile at the Napier Sailing Club last night David Elliott thanked his team and all his supporters.
"I was a novice going into this and I needed a lot of support, which I got," he said.
He said National's share of the party vote was heartening but suggested people visit the bar.
"It makes tonight more bearable."
People are starting to leave the gathering, with many citing the start of daylight saving as the reason.
More than 100 people have gathered at a Marine Parade venue in Napier, where big screens blare the latest news as the results come rolling in.
National has been growing its party vote in the coastal electorate steadily over the last six elections.