Politics live blog - November 3
Chris Hipkins: 'We have lost of a lot of support'
The outgoing prime minister and Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins says he will continue as the caretaker government as National Party leader Christopher Luxon looks for form a government, with likely coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First.
A recount of some of the closer electorate seats would be likely, he said, although he accepted the overall result.
"The result does confirm the overall allocation of seats in the coming Parliament," he said.
He said Peeni Henare would have his support if he asked for a recount, with only four votes between him and Tāmaki Makaurau winner, Takutai Kemp from Te Pati Māori, to the Tamaki Makaurau seat.
He said Labour has lost a lot of support, but that he had a very important job of holding the next government to account from the Opposition seats.
Asked about whether he has reflected on the result, he said that was a matter for the Labour Party.
"I am sure there will be a lot of opportunity ... over the next few months to reflect on the election result and the best way forward."
He said he still had a lot of fight left in him, and that the party has always been good to him.
"I have always done the right thing by the Labour Party and I will continue to do that."
He said people would need the opportunity to reflect on the results before they consider their futures.
In terms of the Labour Party review on the election result, he said there was "a lot of water to flow under the bridge".
"We will have the opportunity to debrief on things we are proud of, and things we think we can do better."
He said Labour would need to spend a bit of time reflecting on its Auckland results in general. "Labour's support in Auckland started to really ebb away at the beginning of 2022. We will need to spend some time getting that support back."
Luxon did not have an easy task ahead, in putting together a three-party government, he added.
"There will be a formidable opposition."
A recount of some of the closer electorate seats would be likely, he said, although he accepted the overall result.
"The result does confirm the overall allocation of seats in the coming Parliament," he said.
He said Peeni Henare would have his support if he asked for a recount, with only four votes between him and Tāmaki Makaurau winner, Takutai Kemp from Te Pati Māori, to the Tamaki Makaurau seat.
He said Labour has lost a lot of support, but that he had a very important job of holding the next government to account from the Opposition seats.
Asked about whether he has reflected on the result, he said that was a matter for the Labour Party.
"I am sure there will be a lot of opportunity ... over the next few months to reflect on the election result and the best way forward."
He said he still had a lot of fight left in him, and that the party has always been good to him.
"I have always done the right thing by the Labour Party and I will continue to do that."
He said people would need the opportunity to reflect on the results before they consider their futures.
In terms of the Labour Party review on the election result, he said there was "a lot of water to flow under the bridge".
"We will have the opportunity to debrief on things we are proud of, and things we think we can do better."
He said Labour would need to spend a bit of time reflecting on its Auckland results in general. "Labour's support in Auckland started to really ebb away at the beginning of 2022. We will need to spend some time getting that support back."
Luxon did not have an easy task ahead, in putting together a three-party government, he added.
"There will be a formidable opposition."