Steel survives in see-saw contest

By Melissa Moxon, Paul Yandall

HAMILTON - National's Tony Steel was not aware he had managed to outswim the red tide until Labour candidate Dianne Yates arrived at his Hamilton East office early yesterday to congratulate him.

The lead had swung between the two on election night and just as it seemed list MP Ms Yates was pulling away, the results from the last three booths put Mr Steel 637 votes ahead.

The former All Black and Hamilton Boys High School headmaster put his win down to hard work, particularly in education, and to not "slagging off" his opponents.

"When I was headmaster I was looked up to and respected and it's not as if when you become a politician your character changes," he said.

Ms Yates believed she missed out on the seat because there were too many wealthy people in the electorate who did not want to pay higher taxes under Labour.

"I met a woman the other day who said she earned over $60,000 and did not want to pay more tax because she was too selfish.

"But I'm still here [in Parliament as a list MP]. We lost the battle but won the war."

Across town, National's Bob Simcock had a less memorable night, dropping Hamilton West to Labour's Martin Gallagher, who secured a majority of 1614.

"I think we have to recognise that after nine years there's a tendency for people to feel that we're not listening anymore," said Mr Simcock.

"We have to be held accountable for that."

He picked up a list spot from National to remain an MP.

Mr Simcock is threatening legal action against Mr Gallagher for using allegedly dirty campaign tactics.

The beaten MP said a letter circulated by Mr Gallagher last week claimed Mr Simcock had "refused to vote to allow the community to be consulted about the [Hamilton] casino proposal" - which, he said, was "absolutely untrue."

Mr Simcock had voted for a bill that would have stalled the $50 million Riverside Casino, but the legislation was rejected by MPs in a conscience vote in June.

He said he would pursue the matter this week but conceded that the letter probably had no effect on the election result.

Mr Gallagher, a former Deputy Mayor of Hamilton who served one term as Labour associate health spokesman after taking the seat in 1993, said Mr Simcock had voted for the casino bill knowing it was too late to stop the project.

"Clearly the casino was a big issue and clearly a number of voters found Bob's position wanting."