 Lotu-Iiga became one of three National Party candidates in the Auckland region to claim a seat from Labour, along with Nikki Kaye in and Paula Bennett in Waitakere.In his first parliamentary term, Lotu-Iiga served as the Deputy-Chairperson of the Commerce Committee and as a member of the Finance and Expenditure Committee.Lotu-Iiga faced some criticism for not resigning from his role as an Auckland City Councillor when he was elected as an MP.