Labour list MPs eye backbench

Tauranga and Bay of Plenty MPs Jan Tinetti and Angie Warren-Clark in their shared office at parliament. Photo/supplied

Tauranga's Labour list MPs expect to be backbenchers in the new Government.

Jan Tinetti and Angie Warren-Clark spent their first day following the announcement of the Government in their shared office in Parliament on Friday.

The Labour Party Caucus elected the 21 ministers who will serve in the new executive yesterday , which did not include the two MPs.

Ms Tinetti said she had been so busy learning the ropes of her new role as an MP that she had not had time to think about potential portfolios.

"I am just so grateful to be here, I would leave that in the hands of the people who have been here the longest and know the strengths I bring," she said.

"We are the backbenchers," Ms Warren-Clark said. "We just have to wait and see."

The pair were confident that fellow party members knew their strengths and would assign portfolios accordingly.

Ms Tinetti, the former Merivale School principal, said she would stay true to her campaigning for better education and housing.

Ms Warren-Clark said while she had a diverse background in social justice, feminism and women's politics, she would "go where I am sent".

"We have still got a full schedule of learning to do, I am hurrying to catch up."

Both MPs were confident in the new government.

"It was a strong support for National, but that was the biggest vote we have had go to Labour in a very long time and there is a feeling of change," Ms Tinetti said.

Waiariki MP Tamati Coffey said with the coalition now decided, MPs could now focus on taking the issues of Rotorua and Bay of Plenty to Parliament.

"It will be our privilege and our responsibility," he said.

NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell has gone from pouring a Guinness at a Mount Maunganui pub to joining in negotiations of forming the next government.

The former owner of Mount Mellick's political career began when he was elected as a Tauranga City Ward councillor for Mount and Papamoa in 2013.

He stood down after becoming a Tauranga-based MP with NZ First in 2014 and was involved in party leader Winston Peter's coalition negotiations which sided with Labour and the Greens.

Mr Mitchell said he and his wife marvelled over the idea he was listening in on government negotiations when the rest of the country was locked out during a short visit back home during the discussions.

"It makes you realise the gravity of the situation and the opportunity," Mr Mitchell said. "I feel very privileged and honoured."

Mr Mitchell said the last two weeks had been a bit of a blur as he listened to both sides of the negotiations.

"It was very positive, both sides put their best foot forward and we felt like we got a lot of policy wins that will benefit New Zealand," Mr Mitchell said.

He said the party felt by joining a coalition with Labour and the Greens there would be better and bigger positive change for the country.

"There was not one area we fixated ourselves with," he said. He said the decision was made regarding what policies would better benefit NZ.

Mr Mitchell, who is currently the party whip, did not think he would be running for any ministerial position and felt there were more capable MPs including Rotorua MP Fletcher Tabuteau and Ron Mark.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said he was worried who his portfolios will be handed to as he slips back into the Opposition following the announcement of the three-party government.

Mr Bridges was particularly concerned about who would take his portfolio as Transport Minister.

"I worry about it because I think there are many portfolios that will be stalled and I do not think whether it is Labour, Greens or New Zealand first they will put the same focus on infrastructure that National would have," Mr Bridges said.

"I worry they will take their eye off the ball, particularly locally."

Mr Bridges said National had focused on building two roads of national significance in the Western Bay of Plenty and was concerned that would not happen.

Mr Bridges said he was disappointed with Mr Peters' decision but felt he was well-equipped to be a member of opposition with his background in criminal law.

"This is not what [voters] voted for, they voted for a National-led government," he said.

"But I am motivated by the challenge of being a strong opposition that holds this new government to account. We can be the strongest opposition in history given our size in relation to this government."

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said transitioning to an opposition MP was disappointing "but that is MMP".

"We will just keep doing what we are doing," he said. "The faces will be different but I still back myself to be able to advocate effectively for the community."

Mr Muller was in America during the election which chose Donald Trump as its new president but did not liken NZ's election to theirs.

"That was an extraordinary close election whereas here I think the result of our election was a very strong result for National," he said. But he said the negotiations did not fall in the party's favour.