Tamati Coffey's 'whirlwind' first day as Member of Parliament

Tamati Coffey grinning during the victorious election night. Photo/Stephen Parker

New Member of Parliament Tamati Coffey has had a whirlwind first day in his new job in Wellington, saying it felt like the first day of school all over again.

Mr Coffey, 38, won the Waiariki electorate seat on Saturday over Te Ururoa Flavell and will represent the region in Parliament for the next three years.

"It's been a whirlwind. I feel like a new entrant going to school for the first time," Mr Coffey laughed. "Except I'm 38, and officially a politician."

For Mr Coffey, taking the first step through the doors of Parliament has been a four-year journey.

After standing unsuccessfully in Rotorua in 2014, he stood in Waiariki, and unseated the incumbent Mr Flavell by 1321 votes.

"Lots of people I've met today, our new recruits, at their various election night parties were all solely fixed on the Waiariki result and watching that come in, so that was really pleasing to hear, and a lift for the whole team," he said.

The one-time roving TVNZ weather presenter said Monday's agenda was a lot of menial induction tasks - signing forms, reading documents and getting a tour of Parliament House.

"Tomorrow is going to be the first time we meet with the wider Labour caucus, so that should also be quite a great morning."

He said the next two weeks was full of induction activities: making sure new MPs know the processes, rules and how to get the best out of the services and staff available in Parliament.

"It's basically a whole week of inductions - [Monday] was the tour: 'This is where the toilets are, this is where the debating chamber is, the banquet room.

"We've met up with our new Labour recruits. We're calling ourselves the class of 2017 - 17 new Labour MPs in 2017."

Mr Coffey said he made a new friend on his first day - Ginny Andersen, a new Labour list MP from Hutt South, who he toured the House with.

He also said Carmel Sepuloni and Chris Hipkins had been nice, as well as all the parliamentary staff who "had big smiles on their faces" and looked after new members who looked a little lost.