7.45pm: More than 4000 votes now separate Stuart Smith with his closest candidate, Labour's Matt Flight.
7.30pm: MP for Kaikōura Stuart Smith is more than 3000 votes ahead of Labour candidate Matt Flight, with 15 per cent of the votes counted.
7.10pm:Voting is now closed in the 2026 General Election, and local candidates are gathering to celebrate their campaigns.
Marlborough Now will bring you live coverage throughout the evening as the counting progresses.
Incumbent MP, National's Stuart Smith is more than 2500 votes ahead of Labour's Matt Flight, with just almost 12 per cent of votes counted.
