Election 2014: Highest number of Pasifika MPs

The Labour Party's Carmel Sepuloni. Photo / Janna Dixon

This election has seen the highest ever number of Pasifika candidates voted in as members of parliament.

And although National had the majority of the country's vote on Saturday, it seems the party's move to influence electorates with a high Pasifika population - traditionally Labour strongholds - failed.

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In the 2011 election, there were six Pasifika MPs and four in the election before that.

This year, seven Pasifika candidates made the cut and are among dozens of Pacific Island candidates who represented National, Labour, the Conservatives, Greens and Mana.

Mangere MP Su'a William Sio again proved he was a force to be reckoned with; bringing in a majority of 12,593 votes for Labour.

The next closest candidate was Misa Fia Turner, for National, who got 3537 votes.

Mr Sio said he was proud to see more Pasifika people become MPs and acknowledged that it reflected New Zealand's changing face.

"The fact we have these seats is a very significant achievement and reflects that this is our home."

He said although the majority of the seats won were in electorates with a predominantly Pacific population, many non-Pasifika were voting for them on merit.

"We're also getting a lot of support from working class communities and people from many other ethnic groups as we share the same values."

Mr Sio acknowledged that the National Party had really pushed, this election, to reach out to Pacific communities in west and South Auckland; even launching their campaign in Manukau.

But in the end, those electorates - Mangere, Manukau East, Manurewa and Kelston - all went to Labour.

One of the big losses for the Pacific community this election is NZ First MP Leaufa'amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor, who lost the Manukau East seat to Labour's Jenny Salesa and is not ranked high enough in the party's seat list.

Yesterday she thanked the community, her family and friends who had backed her through a tough campaign.

"I worked hard and I'm trying not to allow personal [agendas] to get to me...because I've still got a lot to offer to the community. I'm just going to take a break."

AUT lecturer and Pacific researcher Richard Pamatatau said National's bid to break into traditionally Labour territory was hard fought, but unsuccessful.

"National doesn't quite have the attachment of how these electorates work."

However, Mr Pamatatau said Labour needed to acknowledge the work of its Pacific candidates and their ability to bring a high quantity of votes.

"What's really important is that the loyalty of these people is recognised in their party list. We have not seen a Pacific co-leader or deputy leader, for instance...and it's time."

Pasifika MPs

• Jenny Salesa, Manukau East (Lab) new MP
• Carmel Sepuloni, Kelston (Lab) returned MP
• Su'a William Sio, Mangere (Lab)
• Poto Williams, Christchurch East (Lab)
• Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, Maungakiekie (Nat)
• Alfred Ngaro, Te Atatu list MP (Nat)
• Kris Fa'afo'i, Mana electorate (Lab).

Mangere: 66.1 per cent Labour
Manukau East: 60.5 per cent Labour
Manurewa: 51.3 per cent Labour
Kelston: 41.4 per cent Labour.