[1][2] The seat was vacated by former Labour Pacific Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, who announced her resignation from the New Zealand Parliament on 10 August 2010 following her appointment as Assistant Vice Chancellor Pasifika at Victoria University.

Chris Finlayson and Hekia Parata, who contested Mana for the New Zealand National Party in 2005 and 2008, are current list MPs.

[16] Porirua Deputy Mayor, Litea Ah Hoi, chief press secretary to Phil Goff and former Television New Zealand reporter, Kris Faafoi,[17] Porirua City Councillor, Taima Fagaloa, and former Progressive Party candidate for Ōtaki, Josie Pagani, were possible Labour Party contestants for the by-election.

[10] On 27 October Matt McCarten announced that he would stand as an independent candidate for Parliament in the Mana by-election[19] The trade-union leader has received considerable media attention for his surprise nomination.

[22] The Alliance Party attempted to withdraw their candidate Kelly Buchanan, after the announcement of candidacy by Matt McCarten, an ex-party leader and founding president.

"[25] John Key said "I never thought coming second in politics would feel so good....Sometimes losing is winning and this is one of them where we have had a tremendous result here.

"[26] Phil Goff said that the result reflects well on Faafoi's hard work and is "one step on the way to getting back to a Labour government".

William Sio said that "The truth is that it is always difficult for most low income families to get involved in a by-election like this and to think about improving the future when they are more concerned about the everyday reality of with putting food on the table and worrying about their kids doing well at school.