A rookie MP for New Zealand First says he knew from the start of 2023, his party would do well in the election

Blenheim-based Jamie Arbuckle has entered Parliament comfortably as number six, of New Zealand First's eight MPs.

Although polling still had the party below the five percent threshold for much of the year, Arbuckle, who also ran in the last election, says he could see momentum building.

In 2020 he says it was sometimes difficult to convince family and best friends to vote New Zealand First, but this year there were strangers coming up to him in the street, saying they would.