The South

Amid the rubble of its 2011 election-night defeat, Labour's loss of the party vote in Dunedin South stood out as a singular "disaster". The seat, traditionally regarded as "safe Labour", swung to National. Mark Price takes a closer look where the votes went.

Labour MP Brendon Burns is gobsmacked at scoring an unprecedented dead heat in a battle for the Christchurch Central electorate seat.

Asset sales will start as soon as possible, returning Clutha-Southland MP Bill English says.

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean is keen to be part of the new National Party Government's Cabinet - if she is asked.

Labour Dunedin South MP Clare Curran will need to do something "quite significant" this term if she is to stand again, University of Otago political lecturer and commentator Dr Bryce Edwards says.

Dunedin South MP Clare Curran is back for a second term in Parliament, but says she will study the numbers after seeing her majority slashed and party vote usurped by National in the traditional Labour stronghold.

New Dunedin North MP David Clark is expected to rise quickly through Labour's ranks as the party rebuilds.

Dunedin might have reached a "tipping point" where it could no longer be considered safe Labour, Dunedin North National candidate Michael Woodhouse says.

National's Invercargill MP Eric Roy has comfortably retained the seat which he has held since 2005.

About 200 National Party members, supporters and guests from around the South were invited to an election and Christmas function in the Jack's Point Club House, near Queenstown, on Saturday night.