Peters back on the sidelines

Winston Peters was all smiles as he arrived to greet his supporters in Tauranga this evening despite losing his seat in the election. Picture / Alan Gibson

Like a well-dressed zombie, Winston Peters just keeps on walking whatever is thrown at him. Last night he lost the electorate seat of Tauranga he has held for 21 years to Bob Clarkson, but he remains in Parliament on the list.

In a concession speech he said New Zealand First had been squeezed like many other parties "but we have come out with a result we can be proud of".

Typical of Peters, he may cement his victory this week by filing a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer alleging National's victorious millionaire candidate significantly exceeded his $20,000 campaign spending limit.

Clarkson shut down all campaign advertising and spending after a Herald on Sunday investigation sparked an official inquiry into the value of newspaper endorsements and stadium billboards.

The local hero had been eight to 12 points ahead of the mercurial Peters in polls, until the New Zealand First leader went public with sexual harassment allegations.
New Zealand First, which looked set to hold the balance of power in polls just last week, dipped to 5.9 per cent in the poll that really counted yesterday. But it was enough for Peters to hold on in Parliament and play a critical role in forming a new Government.

He said last night NZF would provide, from the cross-benches, "stability for the next Government on supply and confidence".

"When we campaigned we said that we would put our support in the interests of stable Government behind the party that got the most seats. Now, that being the case, tonight it's all square."

Though he says he will not enter a coalition and Cabinet, his party's support or abstention on confidence votes will be critical. Three-term NZ First MP Ron Mark, who stays in Parliament on the list, said he regretted NZ First could not go into coalition - there was much he would have liked to achieve in Cabinet - but the decision to stay outside was the only option.

"I have fought for at least seven years on the opposition benches to actually go in there and right the wrongs, to sit at the Cabinet table and get the resources that police need, that Corrections staff need.

"But I did this for my men, my corps, my team the people who support us.

"It's a necessary evil, and it's not about me, actually. It's about respecting the will of the people, and at the moment the people have not made NZ First the second-largest party in the House."

"We're no poodles. Sooner or later they will need us. You never know when you're going to have to walk across the chamber to Winston and say, 'we need your help'. Helen Clark and Michael Cullen know that."

Earlier yesterday Peters was greeted by a media scrum at Mount Maunganui College. After telling persistent media he didn't want a camera in sight when he cast his vote, Peters changed his mind and all media were alerted.

With lightly tinted glasses and immaculately dressed in a cool grey suit, black silk tie and signature handkerchief peeping from his top pocket, he arrived at the polling booth in a freshly polished black Mercedes SUV.

Flanked by minders and oozing charm, he shook hands with a few star-struck elderly supporters, went inside to vote - but then changed his mind. With interviews banned from polling booths, Peters was unable to offer an explanation for the change of plan, retreating instead to the safety of his waiting car.

Forever the showman, Peters conducted a meeting with advisers in the back of the parked car - then left.

Peter's right hand man Graham Harding said Peters was uncharacteristically "overwhelmed" and just wanted to stay "within himself" for the day.

"He is very shy at times - he's a country boy at heart," Harding said.

Viv d'Or said she didn't think last week's scandal over her historic sexual harassment allegations against Bob Clarkson would influence the result. She said she had reached an agreement with Clarkson not to comment further on the scandal.

And Peters will no longer be able to tell us that he is "just happy to be the member for Tauranga".

- HERALD ON SUNDAY