National Party leader Judith Collins says she always knew trying to beat Labour in this election was "a big ask".
The party is currently picking up the pieces of its weekend electoral defeat, which saw it get only 26.8 percent of the vote, its lowest since 2002.
Collins told Morning Report it's always tough coming up against a first term government.
"No first term opposition under MMP has got more than 30 percent. I mean that's what happens, you know, after that first term and that's what happens in MMP.
"The other thing is that the New Zealanders haven't changed a first term government in 45 years. They always want to give them another go to see if they will actually deliver on their many promises that they come in on."
Collins also admitted the revolving door of leaders in the party throughout 2020 didn't help the situation.
"It's never ideal to have three leaders of the opposition during a campaign year."
