By MONIQUE DEVEREUX
In a night of shake-ups, swings and slashings, the 2002 general election has seen a Labour minority win and National's popularity fall to an all-time low.
In perhaps the biggest upset, Otago's "safe" National seat - which last year saw Gavan Herlihy win with a 2300 majority - went
to Labour's David Parker by 1100 votes.
Although he still took the East Coast Bays seat, Nationals' Murray McCully's majority was slashed by over 3000. He beat Labour's Hamish McCracken by 1300 votes.
In Wigram Jim Anderton dropped his majority by almost 7000 votes indicating his supporters were not happy with the break-up of the Alliance.
National's Tony Ryall also reduced his majority - by some 2500 - but the real change in this Bay of Plenty seat was in the runner-up with New Zealand First's Peter Brown taking second place. Last year that position was held by Labour.
Seats were also closely fought in Hamilton East where Labour's Dianne Yates beat National's Tony Steel, and ended his political career in the process as he is not on the party list. The seat swung wildly all night as booth by booth dumped their results and at one point there were just 15 point between the two candidates.
Hamilton West was again taken by Labour's Martin Gallagher with a 5000 seat majority over Nationals' Bob Simcock.
In one of the most nerve-wracking nights for a sitting MP, Tamaki MP Clem Simich finally held his seat after the right vote was split by Act candidate Ken Shirley, leaving labour's Leila Boyle a clear run for a challenge. Simich finally retained the seat, once held by National Prime Minister Rob Muldoon, by 1188 votes.
In Rakaia, Jenny Shipley's old seat was retained by National newcomer Brian Connell over Labour's Tony Milne by 5600 votes. But the party vote, in a seat considered National heartland, was won by Labour.
The Helensville seat also stayed with National, despite the candidate changing from Brian Neeson to Michelle Boag's new blood John Key, by 1500 votes.
With no surprise, Winston Peters reclaimed his Tauranga seat but in doing so increased his majority by over 10,000.
Full election coverage
Graphic: Seats in the 47th Parliament
Full election results
