National Party leader Christopher Luxon is welcoming Tauranga's by-election result.

'I thank the people of Tauranga for their unequivocal election of National's Sam Uffindell as the city's new MP,” says Luxon.

Following the close of polling in the Tauranga by-election, provisional results on Saturday night show Sam Uffindell well ahead of Labour candidate Jan Tinetti, with official results due to be declared on Friday July 1.

With 100 per cent of the vote counted on Saturday, Uffindell has 10,931 votes with Labour List MP Tinetti coming second with 4893 votes, a margin of 6038.

'This strong result reflects the tremendous hard work of Sam and our team,” says Luxon.

'It also shows that the National Party is back in business.

'New Zealanders are fed up with a Labour Government that cannot get things done.

'Labour is only making the cost of living crisis worse, with excessive spending that is achieving nothing. Gang violence is exploding. We're seeing worsening results in education, health and welfare.

'National will work hard for every vote in next year's general election, offering New Zealanders a return to fiscal discipline, a focus on outcomes rather than announcements, and backing Police to make New Zealanders safer.

'I'm also happy to confirm to the people of Tauranga that a National Government will get started on the Takitimu Northern Link – a crucial roading project that was cancelled by the Labour Government in one of its first acts in office.

'I know Sam will be a great advocate for the people of Tauranga and I look forward to welcoming him to Parliament and our Caucus team.”

The Electoral Commission has released the preliminary results for the June 18 2022 parliamentary by-election in the Tauranga electorate.

The preliminary results are based on the 19,403 ordinary votes counted on election night.

Special declaration votes still to be counted are estimated to be 1,500 (7.2 per cent of total votes). This includes an estimated 54 overseas votes and 1,446 special votes taken within the electorate.

The total estimated votes (those counted on election night plus estimated special votes to be counted) are 20,903.

Voter turnout for the 2022 Tauranga by-election is estimated to be 40.6 per cent of the 51,510 enrolled prior to election day. That compares with 44 per cent turnout at the Northcote by-election in 2018, 30 per cent at the Mt Albert by-election in 2017 and 38 per cent at the Mt Roskill by-election in 2016.

An estimated 73 per cent of votes were cast in advance, excluding special votes.

The preliminary results, including results by voting place, are available at www.electionresults.govt.nz.

The official results process starts today Sunday June 19. All votes counted on election night will be recounted. Special declaration votes will be processed and counted. The target to release the official results for the Tauranga by-election is Friday July 1.