IT DOES not surprise me in the slightest when the Labour Party says Wairarapa is a winnable electorate for them.
Coming from the strong Labour territory that is Wellington, Hutt and Porirua (Peter Dunne in Ohariu being the exception with United Future) I was a bit unprepared for the novelty of being in a Tory part of the world. I suppose rural territories invariably are.
But while it may be that rural areas generally gravitate to National, I'm sure the rural populace also like to see value for their coin. They like to see hard work. They'd like a sense that, in the Wellington scheme of things, Wairarapa counts for something.
So it has amazed me, with National holding a minimal majority and its coalition partners self-destructing in scandal, that the government would let a former blue riband stronghold drift aimlessly into Labour's sights. In my opinion, the reason for that is the Wairarapa MP, John Hayes, whom I have never been introduced to, seems to have forgotten that people like a bit of vigour and action in their elected officials.
Newspapers normally get plenty of cut and thrust from MPs. MPs issue plenty of statements, boast about their speeches in Parliament, bad-mouth the other side's policies, ensure they get photographed at school fairs and every so often champion a local cause or two.