total votes cast in 2005 was 2,304,005 (2,164,595 & 139,510 Māori). Turnout was 80.92% of those on the rolls, or 77.05% of voting age population. Turnout was higher than in the previous 2002 election (72.5% and 76.98% respectively), and the Māori roll turnout at 67.07% was significantly higher than 2002 (57.5%). In the election 739 candidates stood, and there were 19 registered parties with party lists. Of the candidates, 525 were electorate and list, 72 were electorate only and 142 were list only. All but 37 represented registered parties (on the list or in the electorate or both). Only 35 candidates from registered parties chose to stand as an electorate candidate only. 71% of candidates (523) were male and 29% (216) female; the same percentages as in 2002. Labour had achieved a third term in office for the first time since 1943. MPs retiring in 2005 Eight MPs intended to retire at the end of the 47th Parliament. Detailed results Parliamentary parties | colspan=12 align=center| |- style="text-align:center;" ! colspan=2 rowspan=2 style="width:213px;" | Party ! Colspan=3 | Party vote ! Colspan=3 | Electorate vote ! Colspan=4 | Seats |- style="text-align:center;" ! Votes ! % ! Change(pp) ! Votes ! % ! Change(pp) ! List ! Electorate ! Total ! +/- |- | | 935,319 | 41.10 | 0.16 | 902,072 | 40.35 | 4.34 | 19 | 31 | 50 | 2 |- | | 889,813 | 39.10 | 18.17 | 902,874 | 40.38 | 9.84 | 17 | 31 | 48 | 21 |- | | 130,115 | 5.72 | 4.66 | 78,117 | 3.49 | 0.49 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 |- | | 120,521 | 5.30 | 1.70 | 92,164 | 4.12 | 1.23 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 |- | | 48,263 | 2.12 | new | 75,076 | 3.36 | new | 0 | 4 | 4 | new |- | | 60,860 | 2.67 | 4.02 | 63,486 | 2.84 | 1.52 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 |- | | 34,469 | 1.51 | 5.63 | 44,071 | 1.97 | 1.58 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |- | | 26,441 | 1.16 | 0.54 | 36,638 | 1.64 | 0.20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |- | | 14,210 | 0.62 | new | 17,608 | 0.79 | new |