Pacific representation set to grow as two more MPs join Parliament

Pacific representation in Parliament is set to increase from six to eight MPs following Saturday's general election.

The preliminary results put former National cabinet minister Alfred Ngaro back in Parliament under New Zealand First, alongside Green Party newcomer Tania Waikato, who has Māori, Sāmoan and Hawaiian heritage.

Based on the preliminary results, Labour retains its five Pacific MPs, the Greens increase their representation to two and NZ First gains one, while National remains without a Pacific MP.

The results give the current coalition government 67 seats - National (42), ACT (13) and NZ First (12) - in a projected 131-seat Parliament, one more than the 66 needed to form a government.

While the left-bloc of Labour (36), the Greens (16) and Te Pāti Māori (5) hold 57 seats, with Opportunity on seven.

New Zealand’s Parliament normally has 120 seats but would be expanded to 131 seats due to 11 overhang seats won in local electorates beyond parties' party vote share.

Listen to Alfred Ngaro's full interview below.

Almost 400,000 special votes remain to be counted, with the official results due on Friday 27 November.

Ngaro, a Cook Islands Māori politician who served as a National MP from 2011 to 2020, is fifth on NZ First's list, with the party securing 12 seats.

Speaking to Pacific Mornings' Election Special on Sunday, Ngaro says Pacific politicians must be given opportunities to influence decisions, not simply make up the numbers.

"We're not here to make up numbers. We're here to put the voice, the initiative, the experience, the innovation, the entrepreneurs and the best of who Pacifica can to be at the table to help lead, not just to be followers."

Ngaro is set to be NZ First's only Pacific MP, despite the party fielding several Pacific candidates, including Esther Tofilau-Tevaga, Vicky Hau and Elliot Ikilei.

Listen to Lemauga Lydia Sosene's full interview below.

He criticises his former party National, which has won 42 electorates but no list seats, leaving its Pacific candidates outside Parliament.

"National has no Pacifica representation in it."

Ngaro says candidates including Angee Nicholas, Agnes Loheni and Rosemary Bourke were disadvantaged by their list positions.

"They had to win their seats in order to get in. Why? Because they were low on the list."

Labour's five sitting Pacific MPs are positioned to return, with Carmel Sepuloni retaining Glendene, Barbara Edmonds winning Kenepuru, Jenny Salesa holding Ōtāhuhu, Lemauga Lydia Sosene retaining Māngere and Tangi Utikere winning Palmerston North.

Labour's sitting Pacific MPs are positioned to return, from left, Tangi Utikere, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, Carmel Sepuloni, Barbara Edmonds and Jenny Salesa. Phone/PMN News composite

Former Labour Pacific MPs Anae Neru Leavasa and Anahila Kanongata'a have not secured seats under the preliminary results.

Sosene says the mood within Labour is mixed, but the party remains hopeful as it awaits the final count.

"So the vibe, I'd have to say, without speaking to our overall caucus, is probably mixed, but we remain hopeful."

The Māngere MP says jobs, housing, health and living costs remain priorities for Pacific communities.

"Jobs, health, homes and the cost of living. This is a cost of living election."

She also expresses confidence in Labour leader Chris Hipkins, saying the caucus remains united.

Green Party MP Teanau Tuiono is set to return to Parliament as the Greens increase their Pacific representation to two MPs. Photo/Supplied.

The Greens are set to increase their Pacific representation from one to two MPs, with Cook Islands Māori MP Teanau Tuiono returning alongside Waikato.

Ranked 13th on the party list, Waikato is among the Greens' 16 successful candidates in the preliminary results.

Tuiono says the party's strong performance reflects support for its policies on living costs, supermarket competition and environmental protection.

However, he acknowledges the possibility of another three years in opposition.

"We're going to deal with the cards that we've been dealt with," he says.

Listen to Teanau Tuiono's full interview below.

With special votes outstanding, he remains optimistic the Greens could still form part of the next government.

"I'm still hopeful that we can pull a rabbit out of the hat and form a government."

Tuiono also wants stronger links with Pacific communities to encourage more people into politics, particularly young activists and union members.

"Building those connections are important ways to find candidates that will, first of all, not just survive the robust nature of Parliament, but thrive."

Opportunity’s Sāmoan candidate Romeo Tevaga misses out on Parliament because he is ranked 12th on the party list, while Opportunity has secured only seven seats in the preliminary results.

The final parliamentary line-up remains subject to the official count on 27 November.