Flavell excited about his role

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell. Photo / Ross Setford

Maori Party co-leader and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell is excited about his new ministerial roles in government.

Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday Mr Flavell will be appointed Minister for Maori Development (formerly the Minister of Maori Affairs), Minister for Whanau Ora, and Associate Minister for Economic Development.

The National Party and the Maori Party co-leaders have signed a Relationship Accord and confidence and supply agreement.

Mr Flavell said he was excited about the opportunities the new portfolios would present. "We will be able to focus more on economic development across the board which has huge potential there and will play a really important role in helping more people become self-sustainable."

The Maori Party also gained an extra seat after special votes were finalised and Mr Flavell said he was thrilled Marama Fox would be joining him in Parliament.

"This is a boost to the party and our ability to be a strong and independent Maori voice in Parliament," Mr Flavell said.

Ms Fox will be the party's first list MP since the Maori Party was established in 2004.

Meanwhile, Rotorua MP Todd McClay has increased his majority by more than 300 votes, after the special vote results were announced.

The final election tally was released on Saturday showing Mr McClay's official total of votes at 18,715, up from 17,180 on election night.

Second was Labour candidate Tamati Coffey with 11,297, up from 10,079 on election night.

Mr McClay's election-night majority was 7101, but it is is now 7418, an increase of 317 votes.

Mr McClay said he was "very pleased" with the final results.

"It is pleasing to know I have the confidence of so many people in Rotorua and I am committed to working to better the city for the next three years."

He said there was a lot to be done and he was "looking forward to getting stuck back into it". "I look forward to working with the community and closely with the two councils in our region to sort out many of the issues raised during the election."

The official results did not change the placings for any of the Rotorua or Waiariki candidates.

Rotorua Electorate
Labour 7181
Conservative 1361
National 17,660
ACT 142
New Zealand First 4139

Waiariki Electorate
Maori Party 4880
Internet Mana 2524
NZ Independent Coalition 41
Labour 8595

ROTORUA CANDIDATES
COFFEY, Tamati Gerald - 11,297
DAVIDSON, Michael - 610
McCLAY, Todd - 18,715
RUSSELL, Lyall - 132
TABUTEAU, Fletcher - 2466

WAIARIKI CANDIDATES
FLAVELL, Te Ururoa James - 9726
SPELLMAN, Pat - 301
SYKES, Annette (MANA) - 5482
WAITITI, Rawiri - 5837