Who's leading the race in Northland? Early election results start rolling in

Months of campaigning by candidates in Northland’s three electorates come to a head tonight as vote counting gets underway for this year’s general election. 

With voting closed, preliminary results will begin rolling in from 7pm. The official results will be announced on November 27. 

Northland 

In the Northland electorate, National’s Grant McCallum is looking to retain his seat, sought by Mark Cameron (Act), Mike Finlayson (Green), Ashleigh Latimer (Labour), Shane Jones (NZ First), Pete Verhoeven (NZ Loyal), Jeff Lye (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party), Doug Lyell (New Conservative), Richard McIntosh (Build the Nation) and Alistair Wait (NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party). 

By 7.30pm, 6.8% of votes had been counted, with National’s McCallum leading Labour’s Latimer by 3306 votes. McCallum has led the pack since results started coming in at 7pm. 

NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones was next behind the frontrunners, trailing the pair by about 1000 votes. 

Jones was pictured returning from a good day on the water earlier today. 

He took the snapper his fishing party had caught back to the party’s election night headquarters, The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, in Russell, in the Bay of Islands. 

Shane Jones returns from a fishing trip, bringing the fish he caught back to the NZ First headquarters in Russell on election night. Photo / Corey Fleming 

Green Party Northland candidate Mike Finlayson, who at 7.30pm was in fourth place, said he is “realistic” about winning the Northland seat. 

“It’s a true blue seat and I’m pretty sure Grant [McCallum] is a shoe in. But that may not last forever. If we keep building our Green machine who knows what will happen in 2029.” 

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Whangārei 

Those looking to fill the shoes of outgoing National Party MP for Whangārei Dr Shane Reti are Lloyd Budd (National), Dr Gary Payinda (Labour), Vince Cocurullo (NZ First), Simon DellaBarca (Opportunity), Doug Graham (Act), Noah Wakelam (NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party), Luke Beharrell (Money Free Party), Jon Twyman (Independent), Collin Blackman (NZ Loyal) and Daryl Warren Clotworthy (Independent). 

By 7.30pm, National’s Budd had overtaken Labour candidate Payinda’s early yet slim lead by 939 votes, with 16.5% counted. 

Payinda was previously 30 votes ahead of the closest rival. Former mayor Cocurullo is third, trailing the leaders by more than 3000 votes. 

The National Party’s Whangārei candidate Lloyd Budd was “feeling good” and proud of how his team came together for his campaign. 

Budd said he had seen renewed support for the National Party in Whangārei over the last few months and was pleased to see another generation coming through. 

His party, at Whangārei restaurant and bar Roost, was full of relations, close friends and National Party stalwarts. 

Budd said family and family values were a key reason for him standing, and securing a good future for the next generation, including his two children. 

National Whangārei candidate Lloyd Budd (right) with wife Monica Budd says family was the reason he put his hand up for candidacy. Photo / Denise Piper 

He was “blown away” by the support of his team and volunteers. 

“There’s people I’ve only met in the last six months I now call friends because of the time we’ve spent together. They make a huge sacrifice because they’ve got jobs or education as well.” 

Whangārei Labour Party branch chairman Rex Morris said the branch was bursting with energy thanks to the enthusiasm of candidate Dr Gary Payinda. 

The Labour Party’s campaign in Whangārei had “broken glass ceilings over and over” and had five times more volunteers than usual, he said. 

“Gary has got such drive and energy, and also depth to his political beliefs: it’s been really vibrant and everyone has been into it.” 

Payinda has pulled in people who are not normally Labour supporters, Morris said. 

“His enthusiasm rubs off … He’s got the key issues of pay equity, working conditions for people in a range of occupations and underfunding of health.” 

Campaign manager Lizzie Mandeno said Payinda spoke on housing and the cost of living, but also engaged with people who wouldn’t normally give Labour a good reception, such as business owners and farmers. 

“That’s why people see he would be a good representative: he’s willing to engage with the issues and think critically.” 

Whangārei Labour Party campaign manager Lizzie Mandeno (left) and branch chairman Rex Morris. Photo / Denise Piper 

While the Whangārei electorate is a traditional National seat – going just once to Labour since 1975 – Mandeno said nothing could be taken for granted and people liked the idea that they could make change. 

Spending election night at the Whangārei Fireworks Spectacular, NZ First candidate for Whangārei Vince Cocurullo said he was “well prepared” for whatever situation was thrown at him tonight. 

“Look, whatever happens, happens.” 

Cocurullo said his main concern throughout his campaign had been to ensure the Whangārei district’s voice was heard. 

He planned to keep advocating for the district whether he earned the MP seat, particularly around the Northland Corridor, Whangārei Hospital build and Northport dry dock projects. 

For a campaign highlight, Cocurullo most enjoyed meeting people. 

“It’s more about they want to know who the person is. They want to know what the party stands for, what are the policies, those sorts of things.” 

Cocurullo felt his campaign had been positive, despite “trolls”, the least enjoyable part of his campaign. 

Te Tai Tokerau 

MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, standing for her Te Tai Tokerau Party, is hoping to hold on to the seat, but vying are Willow-Jean Prime (Labour), Hūhana Lyndon (Green), Aperahama Edwards (Te Pāti Māori), Maki Herbert (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party) and Karl Barkley (Your Pic Party). 

By 7.30pm, Ngātiwai Trust Board chairman and Te Pāti Māori candidate Edwards held a 400-vote lead over Green Party candidate and former Ngātiwai Trust Board chief executive Lyndon, with 7.3% of votes counted. 

Edwards took the lead immediately but on his trail initially was Labour’s Prime, who has now dropped to third place ahead of Kapa-Kingi. 

When asked how Kapa-Kingi feels about tonight, she says she is excited. 

“I’m hoping for the win. I’m hoping to win the seat back.” 

The MP, who stepped away from Te Pāti Māori despite a High Court-backed reinstatement earlier this year, is now aiming to retain the seat under Te Tai Tokerau Party. 

Te Tai Tokerau party leader Mariameno Kapa-Kingi awaits the results of the 2026 election in Whangarei. Photo / Brodie Stone 

If Kapa-Kingi loses the seat, she doesn’t plan to go anywhere. 

“I’m still from the north, I am about the north, I will still talk about us as if we’re the only home game in town,” she said. 

If Kapa-Kingi were to win the seat, she would be on an “absolute high”. 

“I will cry for seven minutes and then get back into the work,” she said. 

On how Kapa-Kingi would ensure her constituents’ voices were heard in Parliament, she said creating good relationships was key. 

She was determined to get Te Tai Tokerau a seat at the table, she said. 

Greens candidate for Te Tai Tokerau Hūhana Lyndon’s first act after arriving at her campaign HQ at PhatHouse Brewery in Haruru was to address an excited crowd of supporters. 

She went straight to the stage, saying it’s time to “turn Te Tai Tokerau green” and spoke about protecting the rights of Te Tai Tokerau. 

Greens candidate for Te Tai Tokerau Hūhana Lyndon addresses an excited crowd at her campaign HQ, PhatHouse Brewery in Haruru. Photo / Jenny Ling 

Lyndon feels confident about taking the Te Tai Tokerau seat tonight. 

She said she has had a “massive campaign” and has been working hard all over the electorate. 

“My focus is on taking out the Tai Tokerau electorate.” 

Greens Te Tai Tokerau candidate Huhana Lyndon at the Phat House in Kerikeri on election night. Photo / Jenny Ling