21 Sep 2014

The MPs and leaders in their own words

1:36 pm on 21 September 2014

A collection of quotes from Election 2014, as National celebrates and all other parties look at what went wrong and what they could have done differently.

John Key declares victory for the National Party.

John Key declares victory for the National Party. Photo: REUTERS

National leader and Prime Minister elect John Key: "It's a magnificent result to be in a position where techically you can govern alone.

"But it can be a dangerous result for political parties who let that go to their head. Sometimes that can see them do things that can be interpreted as being arrogant."

National MP and campaign manager Steven Joyce: "No matter which way you cut it, it's a pretty good result for a government that's been around for six years."

David Cunliffe

Labour leader David Cunliffe concedes defeat. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Labour Party leader David Cunliffe, who led his party to its worst result since 1922: "Of course I take responsibility for it. But at the end of the day, we need to move forward, and we will move forward," he said.

Labour Party MP Grant Robertson: "We cannot be happy with the result that we got last night. We owe it to our supporters, who worked so hard on this campaign, to take some time to reflect.

"But I can't deny my interest in the (leader's) job. I've previously had interest in the job but we have a process to go through."

Hone Harawira speaking about the "predators on poverty".

Hone Harawira speaking to the media in Otahuhu, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira, who lost Te Tai Tokerau: "It's a bright new day ... whether I'm an MP, or whether I'm not an MP. This is a wonderful place where we are right now, there's many things that are yet to be done."

Labour Party MP Kelvin Davis, who won Te Tai Tokerau:

"Te Tai Tokerau wasn't for sale. They were quite upset about it and they thought that Hone had sold out his values.

"We exploited that and, at the end of the day, it worked in our favour."

Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei: "It was a swing to the right. We couldn't predict that. Nobody predicted this result."

Winston Peters speaks to supporters.

Winston Peters speaks to supporters. Photo: Winston Peters

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters: "But whatever goes on now, in the next few months, it'll unfold by November how bad this economy is."

ACT's sole MP, David Seymour: "When you have a strong set of beliefs about public policy and how to make New Zealand a better place for all New Zealanders, then you can never be lonely.

"I'm not doing it to make friends. I'm doing it to make New Zealand a better place, and so I'm not too worried about that."

Mana Party co-vice president Annette Sykes: "What we failed to take account of in the risk assessment was the levels of hatred, sometimes from within the media itself, against the relationship of a German billionaire and poor Maori.

Colin Craig and Christine Rankin campaigning in an Auckland mall.

Colin Craig and Christine Rankin campaigning in an Auckland mall. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig: "We've done so well. We've got into the fours."

Conservative Party candidate Christine Rankin on whether Colin Craig is the right man to lead the party: "Absolutely he is. Two attempts in three years, that is nothing. Look how long the others have been (around), and they are nothing, nothing, compared with him."

John Key on working with New Zealand First: "I haven't given any real thought to that. We're not hostile to them. We ultimately really believe that we might genuinely work with them.

"We might be able to find some common ground."

Steven Joyce on the same topic: "Look, we'll obviously talk with New Zealand First over the course of the coming weeks but I think in terms of forming a governing arrangement, that's highly unlikely to be the path that we go down."

Te Ururoa Flavell

Te Ururoa Flavell and his wife Erana, arriving at his marae in Ngongotaha. Photo: RNZ / Natalie Mankelow

John Key on working with Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell: "He's a very, I've always thought, considered, intelligent man and you've got to believe he could make a contribution so we'll have to talk to him.

"But if he was interested that might be a definite possibility."

Te Ururoa Flavell's response: "If he does he'll ring us and then we'll get into some negotiations. That's how we rock and that's how we intend to carry on.

"If we do get that invitation we'll start to talk and then take everything back to our people as best we can."

Te Tai Hauauru MP Adrian Rurawhe on Labour taking six of the seven Maori seats:

"I think with six electorate MPs, Maori MPs, that we will have a strong voice within the Labour caucus.

"I'm sure that our expectation is that we're going to be fighting really hard to make sure that we maintain the trust that has been given to us throughout Maoridom tonight."

And members of the public give their verdict on the result:

"I just felt that Hone Harawira shouldn't have aligned himself with Kim Dotcom. Major, major mistake."

"Very happy with the end result. John Key is remarkable. A difficult campaign, a dirty campaign but at the end the right team won."

"It didn't surprise me, not at all. I thought National would take as much as they did. I'm glad the Internet party didn't get in. Very pleased for John Key and think it's great for New Zealand."

"It was a bit of a shock, the landslide - was not expecting it."