Labour goes backwards even in Christchurch

The extent of Labour's defeat is underscored by its fate in Christchurch where it had hoped dissatisfaction with the quake rebuild would bring votes its way. Instead, incumbent Clayton Cosgrove has been rolled by 2000 votes by National's Matt Doocey in Waimakariri, though Mr Cosgrove gets in as a list MP. National has easily won the party vote even in the hardest hit Christchurch East and its MP Nicky Wagner, who scraped in by just 47 votes in Christchurch Central at the last election, has been returned this time with a majority of 2000.