Foss says party vote key to victory

Front L-R: Craig Foss, Kristal Foss (wife; behind them L-R: Sophie Foss, 16, Laura Foss, 12 - Craig Foss, National Party, Tukituki electorate, election night party at No 5 Cafe, Golflands, Mangaterete

Craig Foss is "stoked" with a "great night for the National Party" as Tukituki voted to keep him in Parliament as their MP.

Mr Foss told Hawke's Bay Today moments ago he was celebrating an incredible landslide victory for National.

"It was the party vote that was most important," he said. "It's the party vote that decides the government and I've always campaigned for the party vote first before people voted for me."

He said he was still waiting for a phone call from his Labour rival, Anna Lorck, who ran her first political campaign this election after a career in public relations.

He thanked the people of Hawke's Bay for keeping him in Parliament and said his campaign team's hard work had all paid off.

Mr Foss won with a 5800 majority over Mrs Lorck, according to the Electoral Commission.
A total of 32,457 people voted today in Tukituki with Mr Foss taking 16,887 of those votes, while Mrs Lorck stole 11,087.

Chris Perley (Greens) placed third with 1827 while Stephen Jenkinson (Conservative) was fourth with 1,775.

Mr Foss said he was most proud of the 17,233 party votes National received from his electorate, while Labour only gathered 7145.

Mr Foss first contested the Tukituki electorate in 2002, but was beaten by Labour's incumbent, Rick Barker.

He had another crack in 2005 and won a seat, before holding his position in 2008, 2011 and now 2014.

While representing the people of Hastings, Havelock North, Flaxmere and their rural areas he was the the Minister of Broadcasting, Minister of Commerce, Minister of Consumer Affairs, and Associate Minister for ACC.