Rodney Hide: The political do-si-do resumes

New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters. Photo / Hannah Peters

Winston Peters didn't just beat National in Northland, he thumped them.

And this week, a fired-up Peters showed he is Opposition leader and a one-man-band.

He has put John Key on notice that he is to be his fiercest critic and Northland's staunchest advocate.

Peters is unencumbered of government. His job is that of critic. And he has made sure his caucus won't trouble him — his MPs know their job: agree with the boss, sit back, stay out of trouble.

I was wrong to believe Peters wouldn't win Northland. I also believe I was wrong to think he won't keep it. He will put Northland on the political map and with the leader's parliamentary budget he can make sure it has never been better served. Peters has lost two seats. He must now know how to keep one.

Northland now has a leader as their MP. And a noisy one at that. That's a big jump from having a backbench Government MP.

Backbench MPs can turn up. They can be available. They can listen. But they can't do much and they certainly can't make a noise. Their job is to toe the party and the Government line.

Peters is perfectly placed and brilliantly positioned.

His is an extraordinary political skill. He has seen a great many politicians come and go. And here he is still in Parliament and still the focus of New Zealand politics.

Key and National sail on as if nothing has happened. I fear their head-in-the-sand attitude reinforces the third-termitis that cost them Northland. There has been no acceptance of the loss and the need for change.

Outside the political bubble we can see it. Inside it's harder to see. National's defeat in Northland should have shaken the party; it hasn't. That tells me it has lost touch and become arrogant.

Labour can't take comfort from National's loss. Imagine for a moment how cock-a-hoop Labour would be if its candidate had won. Of course they don't have anyone of Peters' skill and ability, nor do they have the ability to campaign on the ground.

Andrew Little knew they couldn't win and raised the white flag early to bathe in Peters' reflected glory. But Peters' success highlights Labour's failure and robs it of the claim to be the chief Opposition party.

And pity the poor Green Party. Its would-be political partner backed its political nemesis. Labour cuddled Peters. It's hard to imagine Peters and the Greens cuddling each other in Government. Peters' ascendancy pushes the Greens further away from power.

In 2017 National is going to need a good partner to be in Government. So, too, is Labour.

It looks like they are going to be wooing the same guy.