Election 2014: Fletcher Tabuteau can't wait to get started

New Rotorua list MP Fletcher Tabuteau (left) with another New Zealand First list MP Clayton Mitchell, pictured here celebrating in Tauranga on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

Rotorua's newest MP Fletcher Tabuteau was ironing shirts and packing bags yesterday for his first trip to Wellington as a member of Parliament.

The Rotorua economist and educator will represent Rotorua and New Zealand First in Parliament for the next three years after getting in on the list.

Mr Tabuteau spent Saturday night in Tauranga with colleagues from the party watching results roll in on television.

He was ranked fourth on his party's list and with New Zealand First picking up 8.9 per cent of the party vote on Saturday, will be one of 11 list MPs led by Winston Peters.

"It all begins right away," he said.

"It's all yet to really sink in."

But, he won't be leaving his class at Waiariki Institute of Technology without a teacher for the rest of the year as he plans on taking his class through to the end of the term.

"I can't let them down."

He said he'd be working hard to resurrect Rotorua's flagging economy with Rotorua MP Todd McClay and Maori Party leader Te Ururoa Flavell.

"Te Ururoa is whanau and Todd is a clever man, but I'm sure they could use my help in the Rotorua electorate.

"I want to bring my passion and drive to the Rotorua community, especially in terms of youth engagement and education.

"Winston [Peters] is right that our economy is not what it's said to be and could very quickly turn south again. We are not living in a 'rock star' economy, so we need to work really hard on this," he said.

Mr Tabuteau said he was also keen to get on with the job and the party's main priorities of overhauling the Reserve Bank Act to encourage export growth and removing GST from food and rates.

"I'm also very grateful for all the people who helped me get this far - my family, my supporters and the party - I don't want to let them down."