Christchurch Waimakariri MP blames National loss on 'leadership issues', Jami-Lee Ross, a leak and scandals

Matt Doocey. Photo / Supplied

National's Waimakariri's MP, Matt Doocey, says his party's poor result this election is partially due to a lack of "internal discipline".

"You can go back to Jami-Lee Ross, Hamish Walker, Andrew Falloon, we had a leak just before the election, leadership issues," he told Chris Lynch.

"If you don't look like you can manage yourself, no one is going to trust you to manage the country.

"Quite rightly Judith Collins, who I 100 per cent support, has said we are going to have to have a review and a bit of a reset."

The National Party scandals included Jami-Lee Ross who stood down after accusing Simon Bridges of corruption, Andrew Falloon who sent porn to a teenager, Hamish Walker who leaked Covid-19 patient details, leadership changes and the leak of an email to caucus from a frustrated Denise Lee.

He said a good Opposition was needed to "hold the Government to account".

People also voted for "continuity", he said, in an election dominated by Covid-19.

Although he held on to his Waimakariri electorate, Doocey's majority last election – 10,766 votes – was wiped away over the weekend, with him keeping his seat with a much slimmer 1976 majority.

National Party support in the electorate also dropped from 53.5 per cent in the 2017 election, to 28.7 per cent in 2020.

"Unfortunately I felt the effect of that."

Doocey arrived at parliament today and said it had been "a tough few days" and it was good to be back in Wellington.

He said he was humbled by the support he received in his Waimakariri electorate which returned him to Parliament.

National needed to have a culture where they don't have leaks and be unified, Doocey said.

"Because this job is about the people we serve in the country - it's not about us."

Labour was the big winner in greater Christchurch this election with nearly all of the seats going to the party.

Doocey and Nicola Grigg (Selwyn) are the only National candidates who won their electorate in the area.