Returning Taupo electorate MP Louise Upston says she's encouraged to have been re-elected for a third term in Taupo and with an increased majority.
Mrs Upston was more than 13,000 votes ahead of closest rival Jamie Strange of Labour, and New Zealand First candidate Edwin Perry and the Greens' Dave Robinson were well back in third and fourth places.
Mrs Upston said the increase in her vote surprised her, but it was "fantastic".
"It's a wonderful result because you realise that the work that you're doing is obviously what people want you to be doing, which is nice.
"I've tried really hard to work hard locally and be as accessible as possible to people so it's really encouraging to get that level of support."
She said her goals for the next term included making sure the Taupo electorate's communities shared in the benefits of economic growth, particularly when it came to education opportunities for young people.
Despite the campaign being busy, there was no let-up ahead, with Mrs Upston at her desk by 8am yesterday, and preparing to fly back to Wellington today. She is National's senior whip, a job that involves training the party's 15 new MP and helping get set up for the beginning of the parliamentary term.
Mrs Upston's Labour Party rival Jamie Strange, a Hamilton schoolteacher, says he's disappointed not to have been elected, but it was always going to be tough to win in a seat as blue as Taupo.
Mr Strange won more than 7000 votes and admitted he was hoping for 8000 to 10,000 all up. But he was very proud of the work he and party volunteers had done around the electorate.
"I've really, really enjoyed it. I'm quite a people person and I get energised when I'm out there talking to people and listening to people and being part of a team."
The Taupo campaign was Mr Strange's first foray into politics, but the 38-year-old father of four says he is as keen as ever to be involved, especially around education.
He paid tribute to his campaign team, especially Wayne Place in Taupo, who he says did "an amazing job".