Oriini Kaipara has taken the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection for Te Pāti Māori with rival Labour's Peeni Henare conceding this evening.
Early results from the byelection had former broadcaster Kaipara in a commanding lead.
With 88% of the votes counted, Kaipara had 5463 in her favour with Henare trailing at 2797.
Eighty-four polling booths were open today from 9am until 7pm to collect the last of the votes.
The Electoral Commission has said turnout had been low, despite early voting opening on August 25, with just under 5000 ballots cast by Thursday.
Last day of polling wasn’t helped by spring showers and cool winds across the city. (Source: 1News)
The Tāmaki Makaurau electorate had approximately 44,000 voters enrolled, according to the Electoral Commission. At 88% of the votes counted, there had been 8500 returns.
Henare and Kaipara were considered front-runners in the byelection triggered by the death of Te Pāti Māori MP, Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Te Pāti Māori confirmed Kaipara as its candidate on July 11.
Henare held the seat between 2014 and 2023 until Kemp, who ran for Te Pāti Māori, ousted him by a margin of just 42 votes.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission confirmed it was looking into a social media post by Te Pāti Māori MP Takuta Ferris on Saturday morning, the last day of polling in the byelection.
Ferris posted an photograph of himself holding a punnet of what appeared to be meat-loaded fries, with words urging people to vote. He was pictured wearing a Te Pāti Māori branded puffer jacket.
The Ferris post was forwarded to tne Electoral Commission who responded: "Kia ora, thanks for letting us know. We're looking into it."
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