National bit a chunk out of Labour's majority in Mana but former MP Winnie Laban nearly gave them a bigger slice of the cake today.In a slip of the tongue at a morning tea held to farewell her and welcome new Mana MP Kris Faafoi to Labour's caucus Ms Laba
National bit a chunk out of Labour's majority in Mana but former MP Winnie Laban nearly gave them a bigger slice of the cake today.
In a slip of the tongue at a morning tea held to farewell her and welcome new Mana MP Kris Faafoi to Labour's caucus Ms Laban praised the new MP for his win on Saturday night.
"What a wonderful victory on Saturday. And I think the polling booth result in Canons Creek said it all -- 699 National, ah Labour, and I think it was what -- 17 National."
National's result is a bit of a sore point -- Mr Faafoi won the seat held by Labour for over 50 years by a 1080 vote majority. His 10,397 votes made up 47 percent of those cast while National's Hekia Parata tallied 9317 votes, or 42 percent.
In the 2008 general election, Ms Parata ran against Ms Laban, who held the seat with a 6155 majority. Ms Laban won 53 percent of the vote to Ms Parata's 35.
The gap has closed from 18 points in 2008 to 5 points on Saturday.
But a win is a win and party leader Phil Goff, Mr Faafoi and Ms Laban jointly cut into a large chocolate cake welcoming the new MP.
"The electorate are very lucky to get Kris Faafoi," Ms Laban said.
"Kris Faafoi will be wonderful and you know the support for us is the heartland of New Zealand. It's the people that struggle, it is the working people, it is ordinary people, but we also got a lot of middle class and upper class votes as well so we mustn't forget about them.
"I am so proud of you, it's such a wonderful day for Pacific people as well."
Ms Laban was presented with a silver tray which she joked matched her hair -- she tried to give it to Mr Faafoi but he was happy with just the electorate.
The new MP said it wasn't his first time in Labour's caucus room but it was an honour to be a member. He thanked all those who helped on the campaign.
"I've got a new appreciation of MPs now."
In less than a year it will be back to the hustings: "To have the resources of a by-election is great and I know I will never have it as good again so 2011 is going to be interesting."
It will take some days for the final election results to be declared so Mr Faafoi may have to wait until the last week Parliament is sitting this year to be sworn in, possibly on December 14.
