27 Nov 2011

Peter Dunne returned in Ohariu

2:37 am on 27 November 2011

United Future leader Peter Dunne has taken the Ohariu seat after a close contest with Labour's Charles Chauvel.

Mr Dunne secured a majority of 1646 votes, an increase on 2008.

He said feedback from his constituents contradicted commentators who'd said Mr Chauvel was a threat.

Peter Dunne says it may have been a forlorn hope that he could have brought other MPs into Parliament with him, but he thinks the tea tape controversy derailed the strides United Future was making in the media.

The National Party had urged Ohariu voters to support Mr Dunne for the electorate and give National the party vote.

Mr Dunne says despite being the Revenue Minister in the last Government, it is too soon to talk about whether he will retain that role.

He has held ministerial positions in both Labour and National governments.

His majority had fallen from 12,534 in the 2002 election to 1,006 in 2008.