Todd Muller with friends and family at the Te Puna Rugby Club. PHOTO/CARMEN HALL
Todd Muller with friends and family at the Te Puna Rugby Club. PHOTO/CARMEN HALL
10.31pm: Bay of Plenty labour candidate Clare wilson has congratulated winning National candidate Todd muller and said he was a good man who campaigned hard.
It was a safe national seat, she said, but Labour had made a significant difference in the electorate and the final results would be outtomorrow.
9.45pm: National Party candidate Todd Muller is saying his winning speech after claiming the Bay of Plenty seat in the 2014 General Election.
Mr Muller said being a politician was something he had dreamt of since being a "little fella" at Te Puna School.
He said to achieve that at forty five and being able to represent his home community was a huge privilege.
"The support tonight is extraordinary and it's brilliant to be able to share this with them."
Mr Muller said he was overwhelmed and humbled by the people of the electorate who had given him their confidence and he was going to work very hard over he next three years to earn it.
He said he had already received a great text from Tony Ryall and Jim Bolger.
"It's awesome to have got support from those two who have been my mentors it's very exciting."
Mrs Wilson is spending the night with close family and supporters as she awaits the results of the election at her Mount Maunganui home.
Mrs Wilson said she would like to see a big jump in votes in the electorate and was expecting to see a lift on the number of voters compared to the votes the party received in 2011.
During her campaign trail she said she stood because she saw families in Bay of Plenty working hard and doing everything right but not getting ahead.
Clare Wilson at her Mount Maunganui home tonight. PHOTO/CARMEN HALL
7pm: Voting in the 2014 General Election has now closed.
Votes are being counted around the country and a final count is expected to be announced by midnight tonight.
Bay of Plenty Times reporters are stationed across Tauranga to keep you up to date with the latest action.
Keep an eye on the bayofplentytimes.co.nz for the latest.
TAURANGA: BRIDGES, Simon - National Party HESLOP, Nathaniel - Conservative JONES, Rachel - Labour Party KANE, Rusty - Independent LAMARE, Yvette - Independent McLEAN, Ian - Green Party MAXWELL, James - United Future MITCHELL, Clayton - New Zealand First Party OHIA-GATE, Verna - Maori Party O'NEILL, Michael - NZ Independent Coalition PEDERSEN, Stuart - ACT New Zealand
BAY OF PLENTY: CUNLIFFE, Deborah - Conservative DOLMAN, Raymond - New Zealand First Party HORAN, Brendan - NZ Independent Coalition LIVINGSTON, Tracy - Democrats for Social Credit MULLER, Todd - National Party RICKARD, Ben - United Future WILSON, Clare - Labour Party
