Labour party candidate for Tukituki, Anna Lorck. Photo / Paul Taylor
Labour party candidate for Tukituki, Anna Lorck. Photo / Paul Taylor
In Hawke's Bay's semi-rural Tukituki electorate the sun shines down on the emerging fruit tree blossoms and lambs springing around green pastures.
On the electoral landscape, Labour and National billboards are dotted around the urban streets of Hastings, its neighbouring village Havelock North, and rural roadsides.
Traditionally MPs have enjoyed long tenures in this seat on both ends of the political spectrum - Labour MP Rick Barker from 1993 (when it was the Hastings electorate), through the transition to Tukituki, when Hastings combined with Central Hawke's Bay, and beyond until 2005 when National MP Craig Foss was elected.
Foss was also long-standing and retained his position with a comfortable majority, peaking in 2011 with a 10,000-vote lead over Labour candidate Julia Haydon-Carr.
In 2014, however, he faced stiffer competition when feisty, local PR maven Anna Lorck ran for Labour and whittled down that majority to 6490 votes. This year she is determined to close that gap.
Then, in April, Foss upset the apple cart and retired and former farmer and Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule stepped into the fray.
With 15 years as Hastings mayor and eight years as president of Local Government New Zealand under his belt, he's well known to the electorate and his political masters in Wellington, and has been touting his "proven" experience.
Undeterred, Lorck has been campaigning on her "local" credentials, and has gained confidence in her campaigning since her 2014 bid.
Born and bred in Hawke's Bay she's highlighted the region's need for clean fresh water, affordable housing and quality education and health, and promised a "can do approach to putting people first, with positive action, new energy and fresh vision".
Yule's also picked up on people's concerns around the environment, health, education and housing but stressed that "the New Zealand economy is in the best shape it has been for decades ... and due to the Government's prudent financial measures is in a strong position to address these concerns".
While Lorck is concentrating on the urban areas, Yule is also tapping into his farming roots - both quietly confident of their support.
The only cloud on Yule's horizon, and one still fresh in voters' minds, is the Havelock North campylobacter water contamination in August last year, said to be the largest ever outbreak of its kind in this country, which happened under his watch as mayor.
Both candidates have been campaigning hard in recent weeks, with concerted door-knocking campaigns, street corner meetings, and appearances at every event going.
Whether the electorate punishes Yule at the polling booth for the gastro outbreak, or puts faith in his political experience, or wants the fresh approach that Lorck promises makes this race anyone's game.
