Jeanette Fitzsimons wins Coromandel

The Green Party's Jeanette Fitzsimons has won the Coromandel electorate by 246 votes after the counting of special votes on Tuesday.

The victory means Ms Fitzsimons is believed to be the world's first Green MP to win a First Past the Post election.

"I thank the people of Coromandel for their confidence in me and look forward to making progress on the future of Thames Hospital and also Coromandel community employment initiatives," said Ms Fitzsimons.

Ms Fitzsimons' win ensures that at least six Green MPs return to the new Parliament.

On election night, Ms Fitzsimons was 114 votes behind National MP Murray McLean, and the Green Party's list vote was at 4.88 per cent, 0.12 per cent below the five per cent threshold needed to get list MPs into Parliament if Ms Fitzsimons didn't win Coromandel.

The Greens' party vote was increasing during the special vote count on Tuesday and Ms Fitzsimons was confident the party would climb over the five per cent threshold when special votes were finalised.

"I'm increasingly confident that when special votes have been counted we will pass the five per cent threshold which will mean the Greens' top six list candidates will enter Parliament under their own steam," she said.

On Tuesday's figures, list MP Rod Donald and newcomers Ian Ewen-Street, Sue Bradford, Nandor Tanczos and Sue Kedgley join Ms Fitzsimons in Parliament. A slight increase in the party vote would see 7th-ranked list candidate Keith Locke join them.

The Green Party will support the Labour-Alliance Government on confidence and supply but will push hard to have Green policies introduced, Ms Fitzsimons said.

Jeanette Fitzsimons: 025 586 068

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