KEY POINTS:
Chelsea Sugar Refinery's pink and blue paint job is a reflection of the political tastes of the Northcote electorate, where it has stood as a proud landmark and employer since 1884.
Clustered around the wooded bays of Waitemata Harbour and northern approaches to the harbour bridge are the homes of traditional National voters.
Inland, the suburbs of Beach Haven, Birkdale and central Northcote form a solid Labour core, while residents of leafy Glenfield remain amenable to either party.
In 2005, National successfully put up a fresh face, Jonathan Coleman, against two-term MP Ann Hartley, a former mayor of Birkenhead and North Shore City, who in 2002 won by a margin of 2624 votes.
Her 2005 challenger took the seat by 2383 votes and National won 43 per cent of the party vote compared with Labour's 39 per cent.
Northcote was the only seat to be taken from Labour by National in the four main centres.
Why? Northcote resident and National supporter Kevin Klein said: "I think Jonathan connected with the electorate. His execution was good and maybe people were tired of the status quo."
Mrs Hartley, who retired as a list MP at Christmas, said her loss to the young medical doctor was mainly due to Northcote's tradition of swinging between National and Labour.
However, community activist Tony Sharrock, who brands himself a left-wing socialist, said Dr Coleman won votes with his willingness to take up the residents' main concern - the traffic congestion on Onewa Rd.
This time, Mrs Hartley says, a lot will depend on the swing to National overall. "But we have in Hamish McCracken a young candidate who has a lot of energy, is well qualified and more than holds his ground against Coleman."
Dr Coleman is a rising star in the National Party and is 29th on its list.
He serves on the health select committee and is broadcasting spokesman.
Early promotion to associate health spokesman served only to heighten his embarrassment over being punched while smoking a cigar as a guest of British American Tobacco's corporate box at the U2 concert. He no longer smokes and has worked hard to consolidate his place in Northcote, where he lives with his wife and daughter.
Mr Sharrock: "Jonathan attends everything. He listens and tries to help people when he can, regardless of their political leanings."
Dr Coleman's three years in Parliament give him an advantage over his rivals. Half the 10 people interviewed last week in the Sunnybrae and Beach Haven shopping centres were able to say he was their MP.
Only two could name both Dr Coleman and Mr McCracken as National and Labour candidates respectively.
Mr McCracken has been trying to get his face better known, despite being a local, born and bred.
Overcoming his rival's majority is not an easy ask, especially if the swing this time goes further in National's favour. But the 35-year-old, who is married and has an infant son, sees the candidacy as "a promotion".
In three previous elections, he had to carry the flag in the National strongholds of East Coast Bays and Albany.
Sitting MP: Jonathan Coleman (National).
Age: 42.
Background: Former medical doctor and consultant. Took the seat from Labour's Ann Hartley in 2005. National's associate spokesman for health and spokesman for broadcasting.
Main challenger: Hamish McCracken (Labour).
Age: 35.
Background: AUT Business School lecturer and former trade union official, who has run in the past three elections in safe National seats of Albany and East Coast Bays. Six-time national fencing champion.
