Green candidate Golriz Ghahraman could become NZ's first refugee MP tomorrow

October 6, 2017

New Zealand could have its first refugee MP in Parliament tomorrow after the results of over 384,000 special votes are finally released.

If history is on the Green Party's side, which has seen them gain a MP through the special votes at each election since 1999, Iranian-Kiwi refugee and Green Party candidate Golriz Ghahraman could be joining her party in parliament.

This would take the Greens total of elected MPs to eight.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Ms Gharhraman says she's not nervous about tomorrow’s result.

"I think it was the kind of election where we just had to get used to uncertainty and we did that months ago, so I'm sort of enjoying not having the result be my immediate responsibility anymore."

However, tomorrow could see National's Nicola Willis lose her seat in parliament.

Ms Willis says she's "mentally" ready for both outcomes tomorrow.

"It's like guessing an election result, you can look at past trends, you can look at all sorts of data," she told Radio New Zealand.

"I've just decided to be mentally ready."

The votes which could determine the next government of New Zealand will be revealed at 2pm.

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