Lower Hutt gets a three-for-one deal

‘‘I'm really, really happy to be in Parliament – I should say that.’’

Chris Bishop isn’t afraid to admit his growing public profile has helped him secure a mandate in Hutt South, a seat long considered a Labour stronghold.

Bishop first secured a parliamentary berth on the National list in 2014, but failed to win Hutt South.

Three years later, he believed getting back to Parliament under his own steam, edging out Labour’s Ginny Andersen with a 2005-vote majority, was far more rewarding.

‘‘It’s just that credibility and mana that comes from being the elected MP for Hutt South. It just carries a bit more weight, I suppose, when you speak and when you act, and I’m very grateful for that privilege,’’ he said on Sunday.

‘‘It’s the majority of Hutt South putting their faith in me to deliver for them, and I intend to do that.’’

Bishop has cultivated a strong public profile in the seat since entering Parliament, and said pressing the flesh had worked for him. ‘‘People expect to see their local MP at school fairs and going to community events ... you could call it old school or you could call it traditional politics,’’ he said.

Bishop has identified infrastructure as the biggest issue for Lower Hutt, as the economy and population continue to grow.

‘‘What we have to do in the Hutt is invest in infrastructure like the Melling Interchange that we announced a couple weeks ago, also the Petone to Granada Link Road, and the Cross Valley Link - another important transport project that I’m advocating very strongly for.

‘‘Also, housing as well, so [we need to] make sure the government builds its own stock, which we’re doing through Housing New Zealand,’’ he said.

While Bishop has the mandate, his constituents will enjoy the benefits of a political ‘‘three-forone’’, with Andersen and former long-time Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard heading to Parliament on the Labour list.

For Andersen, the sting of losing on Saturday was still raw.

‘‘I’m really, really happy to be in Parliament – I should say that. It’s sort of a bittersweet victory. No, I didn’t get Hutt South, and I gave it absolutely everything,’’ she said.

Andersen felt her competitor simply had more time to build support. ‘‘He’s been working this as a paid member of Parliament for three years, and I had eight months and didn’t have the same time and resource.’’

She has vowed to put her name forward to contest the seat again in 2020.

In Rimutaka, Labour’s Chris Hipkins romped to victory over his closest rival, National’s Carolyn O’Fallon.