Election 2014: Labour down to 12 women in caucus

Labour MP Jacinda Ardern. Photo / Natalie Slade

Labour has lost four list MPs and, critically for the party that aimed to have a 45 per cent female caucus, three were women.

The party's provisional caucus currently has 12 women, which at 37.5 per cent of the total, is below the threshold.

Labour's crippling election result on Saturday means women list MPs Carol Beaumont, Maryan Street and Moana Mackey, as well as Chinese-New Zealand man Raymond Huo, are unlikely to make it back into Parliament.

Before the 2014 election, the Labour caucus had 41 per cent women MPs - 14 out of 34.

In November last year, when the party announced its target of 45 per cent women MPs after the 2014 election and 50 per cent in 2017, Labour leader David Cunliffe said the goal wouldn't be hard to reach.

"I don't think it's going to be too difficult knowing the calibre of the women candidates and nominees that we have around and the fact that our vote share is likely to be significantly higher this time than it was last time."

But with Labour only winning 32 seats this time around, his prediction was wrong.

Labour list MP Darien Fenton announced in May she would not seek re-election.

At 15 on Labour's list, Ms Street, who entered Parliament nine years ago, said though she hoped to get in on proportionality, she was getting used to the idea she was no longer an MP.

"If the final result is that I am out of Parliament, I will not run again. It is time for a new generation of Labour leaders to come through and carry the Party's agenda for economic and social equality forward."

She said a low voter turnout in Labour electorates may have contributed to the party's crushing defeat.

Despite the race for Auckland's Maungakiekie electorate being tied at around 9pm on Saturday, Ms Beaumont was finally beaten by National's Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga with a majority of 2128 votes.

The Labour spokesperson for women's affairs and consumer rights and standards said she was disappointed by the result and was undecided about what to do next.

"I'll certainly remain active in this community."

Labour's women

Labour currently holds 32 seats in Parliament, with only 12 seat holders being women, making up 37.5 per cent of caucus.

• Jacinda Ardern
• Clare Curran
• Ruth Dyson
• Annette King
• Nanaia Mahuta
• Sue Moroney
• Jenny Salesa
• Carmel Sepuloni
• Louisa Hareruia Wall
• Meka Whaitiri
• Poto Williams
• Megan Woods.