Labour MP has seesaw journey to Parliament

Raymond Huo. Photo / Greg Bowker

Labour MP Raymond Huo is feeling "resurrected" after a roller-coaster ride since the election that has seen him in and out of Parliament, and back in again.

"I know they say a week is a long time in politics, but I imagine few politicians would have been through a week like this," he said yesterday.

"After nearly having to hang up my MP's shoes, I feel like I've been resurrected in getting this second chance."

Mr Huo, a list MP, was named a "successful candidate" after the November 26 election - conditional on Labour losing the Christchurch Central seat, where the Labour and National candidates each had 10,493 votes.

But Waitakere made Mr Huo "lose" his seat last week after special votes gave Labour's Carmel Sepuloni victory by 11 votes over National's Paula Bennett.

Last Thursday, Mr Huo was asked to vacate his offices in Wellington and terminate leases at his two offices in Te Atatu and New Lynn.

A day later, a recount in Waitakere gave the seat back to National, and the list seat back to Mr Huo over Ms Sepuloni, who was too low on the list to return to Parliament.

Mr Huo said he was working in his vegetable garden, contemplating a new career as an author when he got the news.

"It has been a roller-coaster three weeks and I've been through a seesaw of emotions, but I am really happy that I will be returning to Wellington."

Labour has not ruled out an electoral petition to challenge the Waitakere result, but Mr Huo thinks it is unlikely.

The former lawyer and journalist became the party's first Chinese MP in 2008.

Mr Huo says he will be "working closely" with National Chinese MP Jian Yang to improve ties between New Zealand and China.

"I think the message we got from voters this election is very clear, and they see growing the economy as most important."