Empowered Foss sweeps back in

National MP Craig Foss celebrates retaining the Tukituki electorate on Saturday night with his wife Kristal and two daughters, Sophie (centre back) and Laura. Photo / Duncan Brown

An increased voter turnout in the Tukituki electorate, a surge in support for the right-wing minor parties and an aggressive challenger from Labour could not topple Craig Foss.

The election campaign mounted by Mr Foss' opponent, newcomer Anna Lorck, reduced the majority he'd enjoyed in prior elections, but he still won more than 50 per cent of the vote.

About 1960 more voters turned out at polling booths this year than during the 2011 election.

Mr Foss suggested voters were inspired by "a strong motivation to let National continue delivering".

He said his win was "empowering" and had "recharged the batteries" for another three-year term.

"The people have spoken, the votes have been counted, and now it's time to get to work and put the oars in the water. At the end of the day, Tukituki's decided that I'm still their guy."

He acknowledged the zeal of Ms Lorck's campaign, saying she "ran probably one of the better Labour campaigns we've seen in quite some time".

Ms Lorck bucked Labour's downward trend in Tukituki but lost by 5800 votes.

"I think we made a significant dent in Craig's majority. We've reduced his margin, which is really positive," she said.

Mr Foss believed he had lost "quite a few" votes to Conservative Party candidate Stephen Jenkinson.

The Conservatives saw their share of the electorate and party vote grow in Tukituki.

Mr Jenkinson said he was pleased with the party's result.

"We've obviously increased our vote.

"I think the Conservatives are in a good space in Hawke's Bay."

He hadn't yet decided if he would stand for the Conservatives in 2017.

NZ First also saw a spike in party votes in Tukituki, while the Green Party's votes shrank.

Green candidate Chris Perley, who hoped to stand for the party again next election, said the party's performance in Tukituki was part of a national trend.

"It's something that happened across the nation, for reasons I'm still a bit bewildered about."

Mr Perley said "the Dotcom circus" hadn't helped the Green vote and "a weak Labour doesn't do us any favours".