Yule got tick only to secure National seat

Caroline Kermode pictured at the Havelock North water fountain voted for Lawrence Yule despite her family being affected by the gastro bug so she could secure a national seat. Photo/Warren Buckland.

Caroline Kermode was one of many who voted for Lawrence Yule to represent the Tukituki electorate this election despite the effects of the gastro crisis.

However, her vote wasn't given on the basis and reputation of Mr Yule, the former mayor of Hastings, but rather in an attempt to keep the seat National.

"The way the gastro crisis was handled was disgusting. It was sad to watch my family suffer during the outbreak with their business when they had all worked so hard."

"I think people forget the affect it had on the businesses in Havelock North with many experiencing significant losses. Some even had to shut and some have never reopened."

Mrs Kermode even contemplated voting NZ First this election despite always being a National supporter in New Zealand, due to Mr Yule leading the organisation charged with delivering safe drinking water to the suburb and the way he handled it.

"It was really hard as I didn't want Anna and Labour and I didn't want Lawrence but when it got so tight between parties I knew I had to vote for him to try and keep the seat National."

She believed Labour's announcement on wanting a water tax also helped Mr Yule get through.

The preliminary data showed the former Hastings mayor won the suburb by a large margin, receiving more votes than any of his opponents at all seven advance, and election day booths.

About 5389 people voted for Mr Yule in Havelock North - nearly the same number of people as those who fell ill in August 2016 after their water supply was contaminated with campylobactor.

On election day he received a total 2065 votes from Havelock North voting places. His main opponent, Labour's Anna Lorck, received 1224.

It was a clean sweep for him at advance voting places with a total 3324 people casting their votes for him at the two sites - including 110 votes cast at the Mary Doyle retirement village, where an elderly woman died as a result of complications from contracting campylobactor.

Mrs Kermode said Mr Yule was very lucky and even though she can't speak for others in Havelock North she believed a lot of people would have been in the same boat as her.

"I can only think he got in for the same reason as to why I voted for him- to keep the seat National."

However, she said it was a real struggle to see people backing him and she hoped he would prove himself in his term as MP.

"I certainly don't trust him after the gastro, I don't think he did enough and if he doesn't present himself well this term he won't last another that's for sure."

"I hope he works in the best interest of the Tukituki electorate not for his own political aspirations."