17 Oct 2023

Cyclone affected communities ditch Labour for National

From Morning Report, 8:16 am on 17 October 2023

Communities badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle have voted to ditch their Labour representatives, in favour of National. 

Based on the preliminary election results, the party has achieved decisive victories in Hawke's Bay and Te Tairāwhiti, but the margin is narrower in Wairarapa. 

So, what will change for those still dealing with broken homes and roads, piles of silt, and daily disruptions nine months after the cyclone? 

Three new National MPs: for Tukituki, Catherine Wedd; Napier, Katie Nimon, and for East Coast, Dana Kirkpatrick, spoke to Corin Dann.