Election 2014 aftermath: Winners and losers

Patrice Dougan

21 Sep, 2014 07:00 AM4 mins to read

Prime Minister John Key meeting with senior ministers, Gerry Brownlee and Bill English in his Parnell house. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A day after National's strong win in the 2014 general election, APNZ reporter Patrice Dougan wraps up today's aftermath.

John Key says the National party won't become complacent after winning an historic victory at the polls.

At a press conference today, Mr Key said he would not follow the landslide win with radical change.

"I don't intend to take the party veering off to the right. We've held the centre ground for the last six years.

"It's incredibly important that National stays connected with its supporters and connected with the New Zealand public."

He said internet-Mana's 'Moment of Truth' had hurt the opposition parties.

"I do think that a lot of middle New Zealand sort of rejected their notion of a group of foreigners looking at having a very heavy influence on an election that is New Zealand's election."

A majority vote of 48.1 per cent sees Prime Minister John Key's party with enough seats to govern alone - something which has not happened since MMP was introduced in 1996.

ELECTION INTERACTIVE: Every vote, every seat, every result

Provisional results give National 61 seats in Parliament, while Labour will lose three seats in its lowest electoral result since 1992, polling at 24.7 per cent.

Labour leader David Cunliffe said today he wanted to continue as leader of the party, but would call for a vote on the leadership and contest his job again.

"The feedback I've had widely across the party has been that I have the vision and have proven myself on the campaign trail."

No other MPs had told him they intended to challenge, he said, but today Grant Robertson and David Shearer would not rule it out publicly.

Mr Cunliffe blamed internet Party founder Kim Dotcom for creating a spectacle during the campaign, depriving opposition parties of airtime and splitting the left vote, calling his actions "reprehensible".

However, he also admitted that Labour should not have turned down an offer from the Greens to form a more unified opposition.

App users: Tap here to watch 'Three more years for Key'

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei spoke positively of the party's 10 per cent vote share, saying it had "solidified our support and strengthened our vision within a swing to the right".

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his party, which takes 11 MPs into parliament, would aim to be the "leading opposition party", claiming to have both "the experience and the record".

Act Party leader Jamie Whyte, who failed to secure a seat in Parliament, has admitted his position as party leader is uncertain, and the party brand "tarnished" after polling at just 0.7 per cent.

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig said he had "mixed feelings" about his party's results, but vowed to continue his bid to get to Parliament.

View: Election night photo gallery:

Internet Mana supporters Sister Detailz (left) and Karl Pearce at the Internet Party election night function at The Cloud on the Auckland waterfront. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Image 1 of 25: Internet Mana supporters Sister Detailz (left) and Karl Pearce at the Internet Party election night function at The Cloud on the Auckland waterfront. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Maori Party leader Te Ururoa Flavell said, despite not reaching the party goal of securing all Maori seats, he had "some serious building blocks" to work with.

"We're looking forward to building on the momentum rather than just going back three years again."

Internet Party leader Laila Harre blamed the left for failing to unite and work strategically to secure a win, and admitted that the gamble of working with Mana had not worked out.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, who lost his Te Tai Tokerau seat to Labour, has not spoken publicly today.