Shocking news out of the electorate of Waikato today, as a by-election elected the Green candidate /u/KilroyNZ. By a margin of 2.89%, and despite losing a coalition partner during the race, the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand won the Waikato by-election. This is the first time since 1985 that the government has lost a seat to the official opposition (although the most recent loss of a seat to a party simply not in government was in 2015, when New Zealand First’s Winston Peters won Northland) at a by-election. Although there was a split right-wing vote- both a National candidate and a Reform candidate stood- their vote total did not equal 50%- owing to TOP and Socialist candidates. KilroyNZ ultimately won 28.03% of the vote. This is an upset, no matter which way you cut it- especially considering the previous National vote (in a two party race) was 66%. If the embarassment of that wasn’t enough for the National Party, the Speaker announced the ejection of two MPs (both list MPs, meaning the party replaces them)- notkhrushchevsghost of the Liberals and Ninjjadragon of the Nationals- Ninjjadragon being the former National Party leader. As of the time of writing, only Ninjjadragon has been replaced- with /u/aif123- who was number 13 on the National Party list. She only campaigned once last election in Wellington, saying “I can tell you that [Wellington is] certainly not on the NZ Shit Towns Power list!”, addressed supporters as ‘mates’ and ‘friendos’, called himself a ‘lad’, and served beer which most supporters described as ‘disgusting’. This could be the beginning of the end for the New Zealand National Party.
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