National candidate wins Botany byelection

Jami-Lee Ross. Photo / Robert Trathen

National candidate Jami-Lee Ross convincingly won the Botany byelection tonight and will become the youngest MP in parliament this term.

The 25-year-old won 8150 votes, ahead of Labour candidate Michael Wood, who won 4154 votes.

Paul Young, of the New Citizens Party, came third with 1572 votes, followed by Act's Lyn Murphy, who won 671 votes.

The victory margin was slashed from the result in the 2008 elecction, when former Botany MP Pansy Wong had a 10,872 majority, though the turn-out then was 76 per cent, compared to 36.5 per cent tonight.

Mr Ross won 55 per cent of the byelection vote, Mr Wood won 28 per cent, and Mr Young won 10.5 per cent.

The result is preliminary as all the special votes still need to be counted. The official result is expected on March 16.

Mr Ross said it will be a privilege to be the voice for Botany.

"I'm excited to get down there and get my feet under the desk and start working for the people of Botany.

"I'm very happy with the result."

He plans to stand down from his position on the Supercity Council.

Mr Wood said it was a "very strong" result for Labour, having increased the percentage of the vote from 25 per cent of the party vote to 28 per cent tonight.

"I congratulate Jami-Lee, he's won and he deserved to win. But this result is a very strong message to the Government that they are taking people for granted, and there's been a reaction against that."

He said it would have been better to have a higher turn-out, but it was difficult to know if that would have favoured or hindered him.

The turn-out was very low - about 36.5 per cent when special votes are included. Voter turn-out for the seat in 2008 was 76 per cent.

According to the electoral commission tonight's voter turnout was the second lowest since 1985.

Prime Minister John Key said he was pleased with the result and looking forward to Mr Ross's presence in Wellington.

But he called the byelection "quirky", and considering the turn-out and the circumstances - rainy weather, and events in Christchurch - it was difficult to read too much into the result.

In 2008, the National party won 61 per cent of the total vote, ahead of 25 per cent for Labour. In terms of votes, the National Party held a 11,397 advantage over Labour in 2008 in the party vote.

The seat was vacated by former minister Pansy Wong, who resigned from parliament last year after it was revealed she misused her parliamentary travel subsidy. Mrs Wong's majority in 2008 was 10,872.

The result comes on the back of a campaign that was largely invisible, overtaken by events in Christchurch.

The most interesting part of the lead-up was when Green candidate Rick Leckinger missed the registration because he was too late to hand in his application.

He had arrived in time, but one of his nominees lived outside the electorate, and by the time he found a legit nominee the deadline to register had passed.

Results:
* AL-SAADY, Hussain, Pirate Party of New Zealand: 28 votes
* BIGGS, Leo, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party: 58
* BRIGHT, Penny, Independent: 124
* CAITHNESS, Robin, Join Australia Movement Party: 45
* GOH, Robert, Independent: 31
* MURPHY, Lyn, ACT New Zealand: 671
* ROSS, Jami-Lee, National Party: 8150
* WOOD, Michael, Labour Party: 4154
* YOUNG, Paul, New Citizen Party: 1572
* YOUNG, Wayne, Independent: 55