Shearer has 'big shoes' to fill in Mt Albert

Labour's David Shearer led TVNZ and TV3's opinion polls in the leadup to today's by-election. Photo / Richard Robinson

Labour's David Shearer has romped to victory in the Mt Albert by-election.

Mr Shearer took the seat vacated by Prime Minister Helen Clark with a majority of 9187 votes.

"I am filling in some pretty big shoes," Mr Shearer said to a cheering and chanting crowd after the final results came in.

With all votes counted, Mr Shearer had 12,613 votes with National's Melissa Lee well behind on 3426.

Polls last week showed Mr Shearer with a massive lead over his nearest opponent Ms Lee with Green Party co-leader Russel Norman in third and today's results confirmed the mood of the Auckland electorate.

Labour had feared apathy could eat into their lead and that the Greens could woo some of their voters away.

There was a low turnout of less than 50 per cent, but those who did voted overwhelmingly for Mr Shearer.

Dr Norman could manage only a third placing with 2418 votes while ACT's John Boscawen was fourth with 943.

Labour poured resources into the campaign, as any other than a healthy victory would have hit the morale of the party hard as it tries to recover from last year's election defeat.

Labour leader Phil Goff said it was a heartening victory and would help the party to redouble its effort to make National a one term Government.

There had been fears that it would be a tough campaign, but voters had recognised the talent of Mr Shearer, he said.

"We never took Mt Albert for granted," Mr Goff said.

Before his victory speech, congratulation messages were read out from the places that Mr Shearer had served in as a United Nations humanitarian worker.

Mr Shearer said the people of Mt Albert felt under siege by Labour and they and others needed a rejuvenated party to lead New Zealand again.

National went into the campaign with high hopes that the recent campaign victory, continuing nationwide popularity and the sometimes quirky nature of by-elections might give them a chance of an upset.

However, Ms Lee made a series of gaffes and ill-judged comments which virtually eliminated any chance she had of taking the seat.

The announcement of details of a motorway cutting through the electorate also may have damaged National's chances.

Even in the last stages of the campaign Ms Lee managed to infuriate a low-income audience in the electorate by telling them she was paid only $2 an hour.

National appeared to totally lose heart last week and there was little sign of senior figures in the electorate in the dying days of the campaign as they put their energy into other work.

* Candidate votes

Jim Bagnall (IND) 22
Ari Baker (IND) 15;
John Boscawen (ACT) 943;
Ben Boyce (BILL AND BEN) 151;
Simonne Dyer (KIWI) 85;
Malcolm France (PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT) 13;
Dakta Green (LEGALISE CANNABIS) 85;
Rusty Kane (PEOPLES CHOICE) 5;
Melissa Lee (NATIONAL) 3426;
Russel Norman (GREEN) 2418;
Julian Pistorius (LIBERTARIANZ) 35;
David Shearer (LABOUR) 12,613;
Judy Turner (UNITED FUTURE) 82;
Anthony Van Den Heuvel (HUMAN RIGHTS) 14;
Jackson Wood (IND) 9;

Candidate informals 76
TOTAL 19,992

- NZPA