For everyone, change
From Scott Simpson
I’m both grateful and humbled by the personal support received from Coromandel voters.
It’s exciting to have the opportunity to be part of a new National-led government that will bring positive change not only here in Coromandel but to the whole country.
Coromandel’s issues are New Zealand’s issues.
It has been clear throughout the election campaign that local people have been concerned about the cost-of-living crisis, out of control crime, poor access to health services and of course roading infrastructure issues.
New Zealanders voted for change and the new National-led government will bring the country together and focus on delivering outcomes for all New Zealanders.
I’d like to thank the local National Party team of dedicated and hardworking volunteers who did so much in every part of our huge Coromandel electorate to help secure great result here. They never lost focus of the things that mattered to so many New Zealanders.
While there’s a mandate for National to form a new government, nationwide there are still half a million votes to be counted and that means the numbers will bounce around a bit until a final result is declared in early November. My National party colleagues and I will be respectful of that process.
In the meantime, it’s business as usual for me as Coromandel MP and my office is open to assist people in any way I can.
National: It was a clear decisive win for National.
In Chris Luxon’s words in his victory speech to this supporter and the nation, “You have reached into hope and voted for change.”
Many strong red seats turned to blue. He says I won’t let you down,” and this promise is for those who did not vote for him as well as the National supporters. It will be up to everyone to keep national and those who join them in leading the country, accountable.
Some commentators were asking, is it a vote for believing in National’s vision or is it an anti- Labour vote or is it a ‘wanting a change vote’?
Chris Luxon and team – you brought it home!
Labour: It was an excruciating defeat. Perhaps the biggest blow was to see Nanaia Mahuta and Michael Wood lose their seats- both seasoned and strong performing politicians..
Chris Hipkins spoke humbly after the first election results came in, “When the tide comes in big, it also goes out big.”
He was speaking about Labour’s landslide victory over National in 2020 and the Saturday night crashing defeat of this last weekend. That victory for Labour in 2020 was for National a crashing defeat. And so, the tides of elections continue.
Greens: Whatever one thinks of their policies, this leadership team continues to present as stable and focussed which has resulted in a much higher representation in Parliament with 14 seats. They haven’t jumped around offering party favours during the election campaign. Their young adult committed following would be the envy of other parties. Chloe Swarbrick retains her central Auckland seat. Her words, “Politics doesn't belong to politicians. It belongs to those who show up," are true for Chloe. She was everywhere during the build-up to the elections and her cheer of “We did it,” echoes true again, for the Greens are now the third largest Political party in the country. They will be a formidable force.
ACT: The result for ACT at this time is 2 % more than the 2020 elections and could go even higher. A high point for ACT is the huge swing in Tamaki electorate from National’s Simon O’Connor to Act’s Brooke van Velden. The Tamaki electorate has been a blue vote for a very long time. They will hold a key role in policy making being the minor partner in the coalition. It is a yearning for everyone that David Seymour and Chris Luxon can work as a team.
Te Pāti Māori: We could only say well done! They took three of the seven Māori seats from Labour. This means the Party won, one more seat than it is is entitled to. They just did well. This creates an extra seat in Parliament and may complicate things up ahead for the National Act coalition.
New Zealand First: Hard to see the future here. Let’s wait until all the special votes – half a million of them are counted. Winston Peters is indomitable and that’s not always good.
All voters want to see a clear path for democratic decision making and little time for power haggling.
A very important aspect of this 2023 election:
The eloquent, strong spirited role of women particularly young women across the parties and of note is Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, our youngest ever Member of Parliament at 21 years of age.
Also in this group are Brooke van Velden at 31, winner of the Tamaki Electorate; Chloe Swarbrick at 29 years an already seasoned politician; Angee Nicholas, a 29-year-old of Cook Island descent, pipped one of Labour’s most experienced MPs, Phil Twyford, flipping the Te Atatū seat by 30 votes in the election’s tightest electoral race. Tamatha Paul, the young whine Māori who has turned Wellington Green. She is just 26.
Our Coromandel electorate: Locally, Scott Simpson has an overwhelming majority in the candidate vote and a strong lead in the party vote. Well done Scott! You have a lot to achieve and initiate on our behalf. The people of the Coromandel needs more attention from central government in terms of practical insertion of infrastructure results. We all need the opportunity to build a prosperous future both the people and the environment need to prosper.
There are half a million special votes yet to be counted and the result of this count and the difference those votes will make will be announced on Friday, 3 November.