An analysis of the Provisional Results declared by the Electoral Commission indicates that all political parties, except NZ First and Conservative, recorded a decline in the total number of votes polled in Parliamentary Election 2014.
The final results will be declared on October 4 and with about 330,000 special votes being counted, political fortunes may change.
National Party, throwing its weight behind its charismatic leader John Key, demonstrated that unity of purpose overrides all other considerations. Although distracted somewhat by ‘Dirty Politics,’ the threatened ‘Moment of Truth’ by Kim Dotcom and matters involving Judith Collins (forcing her in the process to forfeit her ministerial portfolios), National MPs and supporters campaigned largely for Party Vote.
Fewer Votes
Although National swept the election with a convincing majority of 48.06% of the votes polled translating to 61 seats (of which 20 are List candidates), in actual terms, as per the provisional results, the Party polled 48, 172 fewer votes (1,010,464) compared to Election 2011 (1,058636). However, in percentage terms, the Party showed improvement (47.31% in 2011).
Labour took a severe beating, losing a massive 95,791 votes between the two elections. It polled 519,146 votes in Election 2014, compared to 614,937 votes in 2011. Only 24.69% favoured Labour, down from 27.48% in 2011. The Party gained a few important seats but could get only 32 members (five of them on List) in to the forthcoming Parliament. Party Leader David Cunliffe, its leader resigned last week but internal squabbles are from over.
The Green Party lost 36608 votes in 2014, polling 210,764 votes (tallying 13 seats) compared to 247,372 votes (14 seats) in 2011. ACT also suffered, with its total number of votes declining by 9379 to 14,510 votes (from 23,889 votes in 2011). United Future displayed a dismal performance; with just 4533 Party Votes, it lost almost 67% of the votes it polled in 2011 (13443).
The gainers
New Zealand First, with 11 members in Parliament is the most impressive performer in this year’s election. The Party collected 186,031 votes, up by 38487 votes over its tally in 2011 (147,544). The Conservative Party did not win any seat but significantly improved its Party Votes, from 59,237 in 2011 to 86,616 in 2014, accounting for an increase of 27,379 votes. This Party, with its Centre-Right leaning, can become a formidable force in the years to come.
David Cunliffe, another major blow
