Candidates anxious as Whanganui seat results roll in

The two main candidates for the Whanganui electorate are expecting a close race as the results roll in.

Both National's Harete Hipango and Labour's Steph Lewis are at gatherings with family, friends and supporters in Whanganui this evening.

Election night in Whanganui ... Steph Lewis waits anxiusly as results flow in.

Around 30 people are at the former Shanton building in Victoria Ave with Ms Hipango, who seemed quite relaxed.

"I'm feeling good. We're here, and it's just a matter of seeing what rolls through."

Ms Hipango's campaign manager Andy Jarden said he was encouraged by the National Party's early lead in the party vote.

"We're hoping for a good result in the electorate as well. But it's a bit hard to take anything out of that, because we don't know which booths have been counted.

"We think that the booths in Whanganui city are going to go marginally to Labour, but the booths outside of Whanganui will go to National. It's going to be very close."

More than 100 people are supporting a visibly nervous Steph Lewis at the Grand Hotel in St Hill St. Ms Lewis was pacing up and down, while her red-clad supporters watched results roll in.

Election night in Whanganui ... Reg Skipworth with a small gethering at NZ First headquarters.

"It's fair to say I'm quite nervous tonight. I'm excited and positive, but yeah, nervous," Ms Lewis said.

"It's going to be very, very tight, and we knew that from the start," Ms Lewis said.

Her campaign manager Josh Chandulal-Mackay said whichever way the results went tonight, it was a win for Labour in Whanganui.

Election night in Whanganui ... Reg Skipworth with a small gethering at NZ First headquarters.

"When Steph was selected in March she had a relatively low profile. But she has run an amazing campaign - she's very hard-working and has incredible energy."