10 reasons Winston won Northland

NZ First leader Winston Peters meets sawmill worker Willie Pedro on the election trail in Kerikeri. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF

NZ Herald deputy political editor Claire Trevett has compiled a list of ten reasons why Winston Peters won the Northland byelection on Saturday. Do you agree with her list? Did she miss anything out?

10 Reasons Winston Peters won Northland

1 He's Winston Peters
Peters can be an irresistible force. You don't put an unknown chartered accountant up against him. Ever.

2 Auckland envy
Peters' "send a message" and "decades of neglect" lines plumbed discontent and the notion Auckland benefits at Northland's expense.

3 Mike Sabin
Voters felt duped into voting for Sabin last year, angry at the refusal to front up on his resignation.

4 Overkill
National sent up lots of ministers and put Steven Joyce in charge. Aimed at showing they cared, it crowded Osborne out.

5 Keep it local
National's campaign ranged from free trade with Korea to RMA reforms, seen as a fix for Auckland's housing problem, not local issues.

6 Pork-barrel politics
When National kept it local, it treated voters like fools. The Ten Bridges policy was far too blatant.

7 Labour voters
Labour derided tactical voting on the right, but is rejoicing over its candidate's abysmal result.

8 Risk averse
Fearful of a slip-up by Osborne, National over-managed him and he never really connected with voters.

9 Timing
Its lengthy selection process put National on the back foot; there was little time to build Osborne's profile.

10 The polls
Polls showing Peters well ahead in the final week were the death knell. National voters thought it was all over and went shopping.