Todd McClay has retained his position as electorate MP for Rotorua.

The National Party candidate received a concession call from Labour Party’s candidate, Ben Sandford, at about 10.30pm on Saturday.

About 88.5 per cent of the votes had been counted by midnight, with prelimnary results showing Todd sitting on 15,151 and Ben 7,612.

Te Pāti Māori candidate Merepeka Raukawa-Tait,a former Rotorua Lakes councillor, had 1882 votes.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting after the call, Todd says Ben congratulated him and wished him luck.

“I thanked him for a very clean and respectful campaign and said he represented himself extremely well.”

Todd says he is honoured to be re-elected as the electorates MP for another three years.

He has been the electorate’s MP since 2008.

Ben says, shortly before he called Todd, the results were “obviously disappointing for me”.

“It’s been a pleasure to stand for Labour and if it doesn’t go my way tonight I really appreciate the support and all the help I’ve received.”

Todd attributes the early lead for the party to leader Christopher Luxon.

While the form of the Government would not be known until late Saturday or Sunday, he predicted Luxon would “go down in history as one of the best prime ministers we have had”.

“I commit to fighting hard for Rotorua and make sure it gets everything it deserves.”

Six candidates stood for the Rotorua electorate; Te Pāti Māori’s Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, Labour Party’s Ben Sandford, National Party’s Todd McClay, Independent Jonn Naera, NewZeal’s Kariana Black-Vercoe and Act’s Marten Rozeboom.

Todd's parents, Dawn and Roger McClay, a former politician, supported their son at his event.

Todd McClay’s parents Dawn and Roger McClay, a former politician, brought a 1968 edition of the New Zealand Herald to their table with future prime minister Robert Muldoon on the front page. Photo: Laura Smith.

They brought a 1968 edition of the New Zealand Herald to their table with future prime minister Robert Muldoon on the front page.

Their son was about two weeks old at the time it was printed.

Roger noted how it was historically a National electorate, aside from when former mayor Steve Chadwick was in Parliament as a Labour Party politician.

Dawn says her son was very hardworking for the electorate.

“The results will show that.”

About 60 people attended the event, including mayor Tania Tapsell and members of the business community.

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait and Rawiri Waititi. Photo: Supplied.

Labour candidate Ben Sandford opted to wait for results with a small gathering with family and friends at home.

Speaking to Local Democracy Reporting by the barbecue before results came in, Ben says he had no expectations of how the vote would be.

He says he was feeling positive and was happy the “long” campaign had come to an end.

With his mother Sylvia by his side, he says the positives included the door-knocking experiences and meeting people in the electorate.

Of Todd, he says his rival had an “enormous advantage” being the incumbent.

“We’ll find out if we’ve done enough to get it across the line.”

Sylvia was proud of her son and says while they were “hoping for the best result”, whatever it was they would handle it with pride and dignity.

Labour candidate Ben Sandford and his mother Sylvia. Photo: Supplied.

The Rotorua Daily Post reported that Merepeka Raukawa-Tait has told supporters at the Sudima Lake Rotorua that she believed strongly in Te Pāti Māori’s aspirations.

“I believe in Te Pāti Māori.

“I share the aspirations for our mokopuna ... no other party touches my spirit.

“This is a time most people my age are exiting [Parliament]. Irrespective of the outcome, it has been a privilege to stand for Te Pāti Māori.”

Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi, who was also contesting the Waiariki electorate, praised Merepeka.

“I want to acknowledge Merepeka for putting her hand out... her courage and her whānau.”

In 2017, the margin between McClay and Sandford was 7901 votes. In 2020, the gap closed with then-Labour candidate Claire Mahon receiving 825 fewer than McClay.

Who was contesting the electorate?

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait - Te Pāti Māori

The first general electorate candidate for her party, Raukawa-Tait is a previous Rotorua Lakes councillor.

Ben Sandford - Labour Party

Local lawyer Sandford is standing for the second time as the Labour candidate for Rotorua. The former Olympian launched his campaign in September and is ranked number 69 on the Labour list.

Todd McClay - National Party

McClay is fighting to stay in for a sixth term as the electorate’s MP this year and was first elected in 2008. He is the party’s agriculture, hunting and fishing and trade spokesman. He has held various ministerial portfolios between 2014 and 2017.

Jonn Naera - Independent

Naera is standing for the first time in the electorate.

Kariana Black-Vercoe - NewZeal

Black-Vercoe is a teacher trainer, with years of experience in the education sector. She stood in last year’s local body elections.

Marten Rozeboom - Act

Rozeboom is a former farmer, engineer and now tutor.

Rotorua preliminary results:

• VOTES COUNTED: 27,600, 88.5 per cent
• LEADING CANDIDATE: Todd McClay, 15,151
• 2nd CANDIDATE: Ben Sandford, 7,612
• CURRENT MARGIN: 7,539
• PARTY VOTE LEAD: National Party 43.27 per cent
• 2nd PARTY: Labour Party 23.01 per cent

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.