Ms Curran (48) was jubilant on election night, telling about 60 supporters she was proud to have secured almost 18,000 votes to become the electorate's first woman MP and only the second female MP in both Dunedin electorates. (There has not been one since the late Ethel McMillan, who was Dunedin North Labour MP in 1953-75.)
However, her joy was tempered with disappointment at Labour's loss and the decision by leader Helen Clark to step down.
"I think she has been an incredible prime minister. I sent her a text [on Saturday night] and said I thought she was a role model for generations. I think she has been an incredible prime minister for the world and is a huge loss to New Zealand."
Ms Curran and her supporters ran a grass-roots campaign based on door-knocking, leaflet drops and street-corner meetings. She also used more innovative ideas, such as producing a music video about her campaign with the help of sister Judith and musician Chris Prendergast.
"Despite the fall in support for Labour, Dunedin South showed there was still strong support for their candidate. I feel very honoured by that."
Ms Curran, a communications specialist who runs a public relations company with partner Doug Lilly, said she realised her family life would change as a result of her becoming an MP.
However, she said she was committed to her family and twin sons Callum and Riley (8) were "the most important two people in the world".
She would head to Wellington some time this week.
Ms Curran had been a union member since she was 15. Her work in Australia, where she lived for 14 years, included six years as the media officer for the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
In February this year, while an elected party official, she won the right to stand for the election after she was named the Labour candidate for Dunedin South ahead of incumbent David Benson-Pope.
Despite some bitterness from loyal Labour party supporters at the nomination, Ms Curran managed to run an impressive campaign to secure an almost 6000-vote majority from her nearest rival, National's Conway Powell.
As well as providing strong representation for Dunedin South, Ms Curran said she wanted to restore trust in politicians and politics, something she felt only Labour was capable of.
