Transport Minister Chris Bishop is unlikely to return to Parliament after losing Hutt South on election night, although special votes are still to be counted.
Labour’s Ginny Andersen led Bishop in the electorate on the preliminary count. Bishop, who held the seat from 2017 to 2020 and won it back from Andersen in 2023 by 1332 votes, conceded on Saturday night that he was unlikely to return, while telling supporters to “never say never”.
Bishop is third on National’s list, but that is unlikely to help him. National took 29.3% of the party vote on the preliminary count while winning more electorate seats than that share entitles it to, creating an overhang that leaves no room for list MPs. Deputy leader and Finance Minister Nicola Willis, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Speaker Gerry Brownlee are also likely to be out.
The Electoral Commission is due to release official results on November 27. Ministers stay in their portfolios under caretaker conventions until a new government is formed.
As well as transport, Bishop holds the housing, infrastructure and RMA reform portfolios and is Attorney-General.
Transport policy he has led this term includes the planned move to electronic road user charges, the retention of the Clean Vehicle Standard with new used import targets and the decision to scrap the planned 2027 fuel tax increase. He has also questioned lower NZTA performance targets.
Who takes the transport portfolio will depend on the result of coalition negotiations.
