Mr Foss has overwhelming support in the affluent bubble of Havelock North, which incidentally amalgamated with Hastings City in 1989 (there's that naughty word again). The suburb's small business owners and professionals seem comfortable with the current Government.
Mr Foss' supporters usually cite his accessibility or business acumen.
Havelock North company director Andrew Bayly went as far as to say Mr Foss was "a good bloke". He was pleased with the Government's performance.
"Things are starting to go all right here. John Key's growing the economy and giving jobs to young people. We've got good leadership. Why change it?"
Even outside Mr Foss' haven of Havelock North, residents often knew him by name, but struggled to identify other candidates.
Labour candidate Anna Lorck scored votes from lower income earners, habitual Labour voters and people who wanted to see a "fresh face" replace Mr Foss.
She received more compliments on her appearance than on her policies.
Clive administrator Glenda Wohnsiedler said she was impressed with Ms Lorck.
"From what I've seen so far she's been really good, and it's nice to see a fresh, younger face. And she's a woman - I think we need more women in Parliament."
Meanwhile, Hastings mother Leanne Coffey said she was having trouble getting to know her local candidates.
"I haven't heard much from any of the candidates and every time I walk past their offices, the doors are closed. It would be nice to see them in person."
The district is known nationally for its glossy overlay. Centred on "lifestyle tourism," the growing industry sees out-of-towners follow trails around the countryside, visiting the area's more than 75 wineries, enjoying artisan foods, cycling, angling and other activities which showcase what is arguably Hastings' greatest asset - its fertile land.
But many locals couldn't care less about fine wine, and are calling for skilled jobs. Seasonal and low paid agricultural work is perpetuating a negative cycle in the district, they say.
Haumoana administrator Susan Elms said there was a "lack of skill" in Hastings. "In the agriculture industry there's a very high level of unskilled workers. We need to put training schemes in place to up-skill people."
Tukituki voters also seem particularly concerned about the environment. The Greens receive more votes here than in the region's other electorates. Hastings' Jess Soutar Barron, found outside organic cafe Taste Cornucopia, said environmental issues in the Tukituki electorate, such as river-water quality, were mobilising Green voters.
"I think our true north has got to be environmentally left, for all sorts of reasons." Those on the environmental left, like Ms Soutar Barron, tend to oppose the proposed Ruataniwha Dam.
Although I found an overwhelming pro-Dam stance in Central Hawke's Bay, there is opposition in Hastings, where people seem to have enough breathing room to consider possible environmental effects.
"I think the Dam has been very rushed, and there's a lot of people involved in the project who are unhappy with it," Ms Soutar-Barran said.
Such words would probably count as blasphemy in Waipukurau.
Meanwhile, rural Hastings resident Georgina Walker was one of many undecided voters.
As much as 35 per cent of respondents in the Tukituki Electorate hadn't made up their minds this year.
"I'm just not a big fan of politicians, and I don't take too much notice of the media," Ms Walker explained.
She, like many undecided voters, said the dirty politics saga had left her feeling disillusioned with all parties.
"I think it's a bit immature - people in power shouldn't be slinging sh*t at each other."
The amalgamation issue doesn't seem high on the agenda for Tukituki voters.
It may be worth considering there are no pro-Amalgamation placards in Hastings to mirror Napier Labour candidate Stuart Nash's red-blooded campaign. Instead, voters are simply frustrated with the stagnant atmosphere in their main centre, and many feel Mr Foss hasn't done enough for the electorate during his nine year reign.
Mahora nanny Sarah Mason felt disheartened by the job hunt in Hastings.
"It's been really hard to find hours. Lots of people can't find jobs - a lot of people I know are losing their jobs and going to WINZ."
Further down the street, I found an 87-year-old woman and lifelong Labour who said she was unmoved this year.
"The Nats promised jobs, but I don't see jobs. I was a young child coming out of the depression, and I don't see that equality has progressed much since then.
"Where are the jobs?"
Tukituki electorate
• Total decided voters polled: 75
• This unscientific poll is of decided voters: 35 per cent of respondents were undecided.
• Percentages have been rounded up or down one decimal point.
How they fared
Craig Foss (National): 49 (65 percent)
Anna Lorck (Labour): 25 (33 percent)
Chris Perley (Green): 0
Stephen Jenkinson (Conservative): 1 (1 per cent)
Romana Manning (Legalise Cannabis): 0
Dick Ryan (Democrats for Social Credit): 0
Party votes
National: 38 (51 per cent)
Labour: 20 (27 per cent)
Green: 13 (17 per cent)
NZ First: 3 (4 per cent)
Conservative: 1 (1 per cent)
Act: 0
United future: 0
Maori: 0
Internet Mana: 0
Legalise Cannabis: 0
