Best comments: Election night 2011

Understatement of the night: "The cup of tea was worthwhile" - John Banks to ACT party faithful in Epsom. The political animal of old is back, entering to rapturous applause and speaking off the cuff for over 5 minutes, no speech notes or statements. Not sure his enthusiasm that it was a sea change and that the tide has turned quite stacks up - he is there solo after all. Still no sign there of Don Brash but word is he is on the way.

Still at ACT Epsom HQ and the party finally kicks off: news in to the ACT HQ in Epsom (at 10pm) showing John Banks with a comfortable 2000+ lead over National's Paul Goldsmith was the news needed for the celebrations to finally kick off after some tense waiting. Party faithful are awaiting the arrival of Mr Banks. No word yet from ACT leader Don Brash.

A leopard can change his spots: Winston Peters told MPs not to attack John Key when NZ First was in Parliament, former NZ First Ron Mark says. "Winston used to have a lot of time for John Key," Mr Mark told Maori Television. "He told me to lay off attacking him. He won't like me saying that now."

All that fuss for nothing: with nearly 50% of votes counted, the word at ACT's Epsom HQ is that the National Party will be able to govern alone. First call of the evening (9.15pm).

Always look on the bright side of life: Labour frontbencher and possible future party deputy David Parker has now led off two interviews in a row with the same statement. Mr Parker is stressing Labour is not doing as badly as National did in 2002. National dropped to 20.9% in that election. On current returns (9pm) Labour is at 26%.

Talk about timing: Hone Harawira says he was backing National Epsom candidate Paul Goldsmith. 'I was hoping [ACT candidate] John Banks was going to come a close second to Paul Goldsmith," Mr Harawira told TV3. National's strategists will be wishing he had spoken up before the polls closed.

The real reason Phil Goff won't win: Nobody (reporters and even his own staff) can get any cellphone reception at his rural home. Might be just as well the way things are going for Labour so far.

Still at the ACT function: as news came in with votes counted so far in the Rodney electorate showing the ACT candidate for that seat (Beth Houlbrooke) without a single vote, the woman herself let out a cheer, did a thumbs up and poured some more bubbly.

Hooton was right (as in correct, not as in not-left which is already patently obvious): "Hooton was right," says Chris Trotter. Left wing commentator Chris Trotter was citing right wing commentator Matthew Hooton on TV3. Hooton had reckoned that if John Key told Epsom National voters to vote Communist they would. With ACT's John Banks in 6% ahead in the electorate (just before 8.30pm), "that's what's going on" Trotter chortled.

From the ACT function: 50 people so far (just before 8pm) at the official ACT function. Attendees have been heard to mutter "If National had gone with NZ First, ACT and United First last time the then Maoris would be gone for good."  Also - on seeing Green MP Keith Locke on the tv screen "communist, communist, communist"

The 'well he had to say it sometime' comment of the night: John Campbell on TV3 "We're crossing now to Rebecca Wright in Labour's HQ in Mount Roskill and I know I shouldn't' say this because it's objectifying women and it is inappropriate but Rebecca you look magnificent."

Headline of the night: Chris Auchinvole leads in West Coast-Tasman with 0% of the vote counted.