WINSTON WINS - THE RESULT

Winston Peters: 10 223
Katherine O'Regan: 10 161
Margaret Wilson: 9515

WINSTON WINS: Moments ago Winston is announced as ahead by 62 votes. Winston Peters hasn't been seen today. 8 hours spent counting the votes.

STEVEN PARKER: Steven Parker: It has been an absolute nail-biter here. A win to Winston Peters - that is a heavy loss compared to his 1996 result. This means there will be five NZ First MPs in Parliament now. If he hadn't won it would have been the end of him and his five MPs. The scrutineers were working today. He was very nervous today and has been keeping away from the cameras. He has hung on by the skin of his teeth.

LABOUR REACTION: Helen Clark and Michael Cullen today carrying on with business of government trying to make their party hopping bill acceptable to the Greens. Clark says Winston is effectively sidelined with a very big "majority for change". Prebble says you can bet against the government lasting three years. All special votes must be counted by tomorrow.

KATHERINE O'REGAN: Katherine O'Regan live: I am pleased we knocked his majority. We are delighted we dealt his majority a mortal blow. He has survived but to do what. He will be very distraught about this. Labour didn't see tactics behind the move we proposed. O'Regan says she and her husband are looking forward for a new life. She thanks her team.

RANGITIKEI: Rangitikei wait goes on as police investigate. Labour candidate has been waiting both for the result and for knowing whether. On the night National won by 74 votes. Talk of a by-election. Returning officer believes the missing votes will be found - she doesn't think they could have been stolen. If missing votes aren't found a legal challenge is likely.

GREENS ARRIVE: Sue Bradford had to get a special permit to get into Parliament. Last time she was at Parliament she was arrested and her bail condition said don't come back. Sue says it is a hell of a lot better being an MP than a protestor. A seventh Green - Keith Locke now expects to make Parliament to. "The Green revolution is a youth revolution" he says,"we have the youth of New Zealand to thank". Voters in Coromandel are pleased with Fitzsimons victory.

GREEN NEWS: The ALCP is going to lobby the Greens to push for cannabis reform. And ERMA is going to consider an application to make GE specially muscly sheep!

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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