Matt King is in high spirits despite losing the Northland seat in the October general election. His future plans include building a new house on his farm in Okaihau. Photo / Jenny Ling
Matt King is in high spirits despite losing the Northland seat in the October general election. His future plans include building a new house on his farm in Okaihau. Photo / Jenny Ling
Matt King may have lost his Northland seat to "the red tide" in the October general election, but he hasn't been dwelling on it. Reporter Jenny Ling finds out what he's been up to, and what 2021 has in store.
Matt King may be facing "three years in the wilderness",but the former Northland MP certainly isn't resting on his laurels.
Since the National Party member lost his seat in a tidal wave of red ridden by Labour's Willow-Jean Prime in October, he's been working on his farm and has taken up a number of activities he now has time for.
He's relaxed and tanned and is growing a beard.
King is philosophical about the "brutality of politics" after a term serving Northlanders.
"It's been a roller-coaster ride since the day I found out, that despite my best efforts I still didn't make it," he said.
"But one door shuts and another opens."
King has been working on his 285ha beef farm, which had been "on autopilot" for the last three years, after he took the Northland seat from NZ First Leader Winston Peters in 2017.
King has been out on the land, tidying up and fencing, and working with the digger to create rock pools to strengthen river beds.
"I want to get the farm producing as it should be.
"I've been giving it the attention it deserves.
"At one stage we were going to lease it out and sell the stock and I'm really glad I didn't."
King also rejoined the Okaihau volunteer fire brigade, answering a call from the fire chief, who needs volunteers to respond to call-outs during the day.
A keen polocrosse player, King is planning to play a few games at the Kaikohe Polocrosse Tournament this month, and spend more time with his parents, Joe and Jen, who are in their 80s.
But King's biggest project, which will likely stretch out a couple of years, is building a new home.
He and wife Sara want to downsize from their current five-bedroom family home where they've lived in for the past 20-odd years and raised three children who are now spreading their wings and creating lives of their own.
They plan to build a smaller house on the farm, just across the valley.
It will be completely off-grid with pure spring water sourced from the side of the hill and timber that's been milled from their land and is now drying in a shed.
King said he's had heaps of support following the 2020 election, which saw him win Northland with 15,337 votes, 729 ahead of Prime's 14,608 on election night.
He admits it was a "bombshell" when the special votes had been counted and the official tally came through taking Prime to 17,066, over King's 16,903 for a 163-vote majority.
"It was a shock because I've worked so hard for so long and we've had good results. I had very positive feedback everywhere I went.
"I actually increased votes on 2017. Yet it still wasn't enough to win.
"The reality is that there was a unique set of circumstances due to Covid.
"The red Jacinda Ardern train coupled with Covid won them the election.
Former Northland MP Matt King is enjoying getting out and about on his farm. Photo / Jenny Ling
"I've had people come up to me and say we were imploding, but prior to Covid we were neck and neck with them, even ahead sometimes.
"People forget that before Covid showed up, we were right there."
King, who spent 14 years in the police force as an officer and detective, joined the National Party in 2008 and, along with farming, has run a number of small businesses, including a service dealership in Waipapa.
Achievements he is most proud of during his stint as Northland MP include helping lines company Top Energy get a 35-year exemption for its geothermal operations, and helping constituents with myriad problems and concerns.
King is also proud of his coward's punch bill which had a chance of becoming law after it was drawn from the ballot at Parliament in September 2018.
Although it was voted down during its first reading in Parliament in June, it would have resulted in tougher penalties for serious assaults causing death.
As for regrets, it's fair to say he's had a few.
"I could have sat on the fence on a few issues," he admits.
"But sometimes you've got to put a stake in the ground . . . "
King is referring to the photograph he posted on social media of himself and his parents posing with restaurant staff following a dinner in Paihia during level 2 Covid-19 restrictions.
At the time King copped criticism for not social distancing.
He points out this was around the same time photos emerged of the Prime Minister and director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield posing for pictures while standing close to well-wishers.
King recalls the "educational phone call" he had from a senior Northland police officer, reminding him of the rules.
"I thought I was living in the Truman Show."
King confirms he will run again in the 2023 election, and hopes to become the party's spokesperson for law and order.
