Rangitikei's McKelvie back for more

Ian McKelvie has been returned as MP for Rangitikei. Photo/ Bevan Conley

Ian McKelvie is no longer the new kid in Parliament.

The Rangitikei MP was elected for a third time on Saturday night and while the make-up of Government is still unclear, he'll be back in Wellington this week helping some of the new MPs settle in.

"Old friends have gone and some new friends have turned up and people I haven't met before are going to be part of the place."

The National Party MP went for a Sunday morning bike ride to celebrate his election victory, having been returned with a 9664 majority over Labour's Heather Warren.

He could not say what his role would be in the new Government - should National form a coalition - but was interested in local government, environmental and agricultural issues.

"You end up doing what you're asked to do in this business," he said.

"I've had a fair bit of experience in local government and I know and understand where that needs to be going.

"I think it'll depend a little bit on where we get in the next few weeks."

Mr McKelvie said a priority would be getting Government support for tourism infrastructure in the electorate.

"Help's going to have to come from elsewhere. I think there will have to be central government help, certainly around environmental infrastructure that local councils have to provide."

He said it was disappointing to lose the Maori Party from Parliament.

"I think they added some real value to Parliament. I think that's one of the loses."

Meanwhile Ms Warren was pleased the Opposition parties managed to cut Mr McKelvie's majority.

"I think that's a joint effort between the Opposition parties," she said.

"It's a reflection on the feeling for change that there is by a lot of people and there are a lot of people who feel ignored."

Meanwhile, Ms Warren said any chance of Labour leading a coalition was a matter for party leaders to discuss.

"It's not the result we were looking for but, I mean, it's pretty good when you consider where we were seven weeks ago."

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Result:
Rangitīkei
Candidates:
Ian McKelvie (National) 18,807;
Heather Warren (Labour) (9,143);
Rob Stevenson (NZ First) 2,611;
Robin Campbell McCandless (Greens) 1,686;
Cedric Backhouse (Conservative) 190;
Neil Wilson (Act) 189;
Candidate informals (342).
Party:
National Party (17,486);
Labour Party (9,216);
New Zealand First Party (3,463);
Green Party (1,358);
The Opportunities Party (664);
ACT New Zealand (151);
Māori Party (140);
Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (111);
Conservative (96);
Ban 1080 (77);
NZ Outdoors Party (32);
United Future (30);
New Zealand People's Party (13);
Democrats for Social Credit (11)
Mana (8);
Internet Party (3);
Party Informals (113).