Bishop blames Māori Party and Harry Mowbray for overhang campaign as he leaves Parliament

On Tuesday morning, as National's MPs filed into Parliament for a caucus meeting, one of the party's most senior figures was already on the radio saying goodbye. Chris Bishop, who lost the Hutt South seat he had held for 12 years, told Morning Report that the overhang campaign run by the Māori Party, billionaire Harry Mowbray and others had been bad for democracy.

Bishop lost the electorate by fewer than 900 votes, and National won no list seats, so there was no route back. He described the overhang strategy as "gaming the system" and said the electoral system needs to be reassessed in its wake. In his view the campaign was confusing and pulled attention from the real issues. "I think the Māori Party have got a lot to answer for with their campaign, and I think Harry and his crew have as well," he said, adding that it was "terribly confusing for voters."

The night before, Bishop had posted on Facebook about the result. He called Saturday's election night "soul-destroying" and said special votes were still to be counted but were unlikely to change the outcome in Hutt South. He had rung Ginny Andersen to concede and congratulate her. "Feels surreal, but that's democracy and the voters are never wrong," he wrote.

He took pride in the local campaign. National's party vote in Hutt South was under 25%, yet on current numbers he trailed by less than 1000 votes with a personal vote of 43%. His team knocked on more doors than ever before, delivered over 100,000 leaflets, held a dozen street corner meetings and community barbecues, and put up more than 300 signs. He thanked volunteers, including people who had helped across five of his election campaigns, and said he had tried to run a positive campaign. He added that he believes Lower Hutt is a better city than it was 12 years ago.

The loss has practical costs. Bishop's two electorate offices, in central Hutt and Wainuiomata, will close in late November and early December, and his constituency staff will lose their jobs. He singled out Dawn McKinley, who has worked in the Wainuiomata office for more than ten years. As for his own future, he said he does not know. He and his wife Jenna have a mortgage and bills, so he will be looking for work. He still feels he has something to offer public life but said it is too early to say in what capacity. For now he wants time with Jenna and their children, who he said have sacrificed the most in the past three years.

At Parliament, senior National MP Louise Upston said losing colleagues is "the nature of politics" but still a blow, and that those departing had made an extraordinary contribution. She said the day was about welcoming new MPs as well as farewelling those leaving. Asked who should take over the finance role from Nicola Willis, she declined to say, acknowledging "interest and speculation" but saying it was a matter for after special votes are counted.

Tim Costley, who looks to have held the newly redrawn Kāpiti electorate, said it would have been "amazing" to have colleagues like Bishop return. He expected mixed emotions in the caucus room and said it would be tough to say goodbye to friends and ministers who had served well.

Final results are still to come. Once the special votes land, National will turn to its caucus line-up, including the finance question, while Bishop's call for a rethink of the electoral system is left open.