Final Mt Albert Result
June 24th, 2009 at 11:20 am by David FarrarThe final result is in for Mt Albert and David Shearer almost cracked 10,000. His majority of 9,718 is (off memory) the second largest for Labour in any seat.
Turnout was a very low 47.8%.
David Shearer should be declared elected on Monday 29 June, and presumably sworn in on Tuesday 30 June.
The final list of votes in order was:
- David Shearer, Labour 13,260
- Melissa Lee, National 3,542
- Russel Norman, Greens 2,567
- John Boscawen, Act 968
- Ben Boyce, Bill and Ben 158
- Dakta Green, ALCP 92
- Simonne Dyer, Kiwi 91
- Judy Turner, United Future 89
- Julain Pistorius, Libertarianz 39
- Jim Bagnell, Independent 24
- Ari Baker, Independent 15
- Anthony van den Heuvel, Human Rights 13
- Malcolm France, Peopel before Profit 13
- Jackson Wood, Independent 9
- Rusty Kane, People’s Choice 5
June 24th, 2009 at 11:29 am
If ever there were a signal to Peter Dunne that he’s well and truly done, and the next election is a good time to gracefully exit, stage left, then it’s his candidate getting trounced two-to-one by Bill and Ben.
Sadly, he’s such an ego-maniac that I doubt he’ll have the good sense.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Thank christ, now can we put this all behind us? Thank you.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Considering the Judy Turner is a fairly reasonable candidate and performed quite well at the Backbenches debate, it must be pretty gutting to be outperformed 2:1 by Ben Boyce and be beaten by the ALCP.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 11:43 am
A major lesson for people that believe in the tooth fairy.
Vote:Stumbles or not, Melissa Lee was never going to win that seat.
The same as for John Key. If he had run for Mt Albert the result would be the same.
Some of the young politicos need to take a big dose of reality.
Mt Albert is red ribbon ,LABOUR, just like Clutha-Southland is blue ribbon NATIONAL
June 24th, 2009 at 11:50 am
It was a low turnout when compared to General Elections, but what about other NZ by-elections? In a quick google I couldn’t find any comparatives, except from the UK, where average by-election turnout during the 2001-05 Parliament was 37.9%.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 11:57 am
The increase in majority is a further indication of the superiority of the Labour machine. Where were the National activists?
They could have put an effort in to at lease minimise the damage caused.
And it is clear that given the claimed state of polling in the country National should have been in with a chance.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
You’re saying the Labour machine would’ve won if their candidate had been Lee?
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Mickysavage… one of the reasons that the National party doesn’t have such an effective machine is that National supporters tend to be the type that don’t think political parties should have machines. They’re the Lone Rangers to your Borg (mixed TV metaphors).
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
“a further indication of the superiority of the Labour machine”….”superiority”..if you mean that they had more ministers campaigning(wasting) tax payers money to win a “safe seat” i agree…nine years later they still havn’t learnt.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Rusty Kane, winner of the most ironically named party….
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
one of the reasons that the National party doesn’t have such an effective machine is that National supporters tend to be the type that don’t think political parties should have machines.
That seems kind of silly. They should get off their arse and get themselves a machine!
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Big Losers: Number one, Russell Norman, the muscle man and the greens lost out big time. For all their talk about taking the seat they couldn’t even get closer than 2/3 rds of Melissa Lee, the other loser, in the seat. The Greens still have to get past the perception, true or otherwise (and BTW I think it is true) that they are neither strictly honest nor serious. Second loser was Lee, and third was National, for being too openly uncommitted to at least trying to win with a serious effort. They also read the electorate mood quite wrong by parachuting in Melissa, the local candidate would have been far better suited, and if he lost, less downside. The only good point was it exposed Lee to a real electorate battle, which if she can bounce back, be good in the long term, maybe. Other losers, ACT, only 968, and all the other would be candidates except Bill & Ben who don’t give a stuff anyway. No one got even remotely close to winning enough votes for respectability. Also NZ First, for not competing, they would have got thrashed anyway, but this way they look even worse, at least IMHO.
Winners, Goff, Shearer and Labour. Byelections are almost always easier for oppositions to win, but despite campaigning on a side issue (Waterview), a clear cut win.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Good to see that special votes put dakta green over the god botherers and peter dunnes party!
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
mickysavage>The increase in majority is a further indication of the superiority of the Labour machine. Where were the National activists?
Running the country. The reason that Goff, Mallard, and every other Labour MP could devote themselves to non-stop campaigning in Mt Albert is because they don’t have much else to do these days.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
“Running the country”
Looks like you made a wee spelling mistake there davidp. The third letter in the first word should be an i.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Sonic
; )
Stephen
“You’re saying the Labour machine would’ve won if their candidate had been Lee?”
No machine is that good. The result would have been closer.
Special votes are a good indicator about the health of an organisation. A lot of effort is put into collecting votes, visiting the special voter and then submitting the vote. It is labour intensive. In Mt Albert Shearer collected 63.3% of the votes but 68% of the special votes. Lee collected 16.9% of the votes but 12.2% of the special vote.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
The National Government are SAVING the country.
Turning the economy away from 70% of GDP debt as proposed by Labour.
Getting a credit upgrade saving business millions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs.
Building new state homes rather than slums
Giving the unemployed a chance to get quickly back into work by passing the 90 day right to prove yourself
Getting decent standards in education rather than having more than 50% of Maori boys without even NCEA.
For God’s sake Sonic The list could go on and on.
Vote:You are witnessing the greatest rescue of a country in living memory.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
“You are witnessing the greatest rescue of a country in living memory.” I think Sir Roger can claim credit for that.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Neil with “A major lesson for people that believe in the tooth fairy.
Stumbles or not, Melissa Lee was never going to win that seat.
The same as for John Key. If he had run for Mt Albert the result would be the same.
Some of the young politicos need to take a big dose of reality.
Mt Albert is red ribbon ,LABOUR, just like Clutha-Southland is blue ribbon NATIONAL”
Completely agree, the only question was margin. This is why I think those who argue for FPP on it giving you choice over who is in power are misleading. It doesnt cause the majority of seats always vote the same way, leaving the choice to a few swing seats who will generally vote on party lines, as thats the real effect, over the minister.
“Turning the economy away from 70% of GDP debt as proposed by Labour.”
Not sure if it is accurate, quite likely is, but are very happy we are not doing what the UK and US are doing re getting redicolous amounts of debt going forward.
Completely random tangent but I want to know wtf it costs so much to build prisons and house prisioners. I mean the corrections department stated converting containers would cost $300,000. But buying the container is about $10k say. Someone is making a mint.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
The Mt. Albert by-election was a side issue from the outset even if the MSM wanted to work up a lather over it. Recent national polls indicate no loss of support for the Key Government. Being a super safe labour seat it was probably appropriate for the Labour Caucus to turn it in to a love-in and fly everyone in for touchy feelies; they needed to show some solidarity to the public after an electoral thrashing. But in the end Goff stuffed up by taking his eye off the ball (which were Auckland issues) to go after John Key. As a profile builder for Goff personally, the by-election success was a failure.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
“A lot of effort is put into collecting votes, visiting the special voter and then submitting the vote. It is labour intensive”
So Mickey what you are saying is labour won because they could focus all of there resources (including MPs at our expense) on one specific area at one specific time. Even you were door knocking ffs. Well done, you were obviously desperate to keep Phil at the helm – (not sure why) But as you cannot repeat this intensity during a wider election the result is definitely a one off I’m afraid.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Eighty nine people out of 20,782.
0.42%
Less than half a person in every hundred.
$14,800 expense allowance.
$303,000 in salary and perks (given that he’s a MInister).
Plus the cost of electorate office, at least two secretaries, and other staff (researchers, press).
The true measure of Peter Dunne.
Isn’t it time this farce was ended?
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Biggest disappoint is that the Bill and Ben Party didn’t poll higher. I look forward with great interest for an improved performance in 2011
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
It was Mallards detours from AKL CBD to AKL INTL what made the difference.
He is such a charismatic ‘leader in waiting’
Message to Goff.
“He’s behind You!!”
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
IMHO Lee was/is a useless candidate.
She strikes me as being vacuous, smug, cold, and unable to think on her feet.
Hope she joins Labour soon. She will feel right at Home.
Shearer gaffed as many times, but the MSM just turned a blind eye.
Biggest loser is Wussell. The Green Party were crap.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
I think that Chris Trotter offered some insight into the reason National lost in his last blog bowalleyroad.blogspot.com. he touches on the National machine when pointing out the size of the membership in the 70′s compared to today. He also makes some interesting points on candidate selection. It is well worth a read.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Russel Norman, Greens 2,567
Pathetic. And from a co-leader with favourable coverage too.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Also, Labour must have been pretty fucking scared about the by-election to have bussed in all those MPs to buy the election. A few choice words from Labour high-ups to fellow travellers Espinon and Garner helped too, no doubt. Pity none of that effort translated into actual nationwide opinion poll gains.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I don’t see this as such a proud moment for Labour. It has never been a blue seat and it was held with an iron fist by Ms Clark. However Labour flew in many MPs, had the Auckland Labour Youth on the streets hitting the message hard with voters and then flew in Wellington and Dunedin Youth Labour for the last 5 days to assist with the campaign.
What is going on in Labour HQ for them to hit this so hard? Was their polling a little shonky because this sounds like a rather desperate campaign. I wouldn’t be holding my head high if I had to spend that much time and money “saving” a safe seat.
The real losers are the taxpayers and we have Labour to thank yet again for treating our taxes like they belong to them.
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
mickeysavage said … “The increase in majority is a further indication of the superiority of the Labour machine”.
The ability of Labour hacks to hallucinate continus to amaze.
Clearly the Greens don’t have a monopoly on the ‘weed’ thing.
2008 General Election result … majority for Helen Clark of 10,351
2009 Bi-election result … majority for Shearer of 9,718
A decrease of 633 is a mighty strange increase.
Bit like Labours budgets … drill down and you find unfunded programmes.
But never mind the quality, feel the width.
sad
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
i think the greens were the biggest losers..
nobody expected them to win..but beating lee should have happened..
..and norman got heaps of telly-exposure..
..they can’t use that old excuse..
..my advice to them would be to stop trying to be all things to all people..
..this has been their fear/fault..
..forever..
..they crave acceptance…
..that has always puzzled me..
..will this cause a rethink on message/tactics on their part..?
..never has before..
..they are ones for repeating their mistakes..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:June 24th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
What an amazing mix of perceptions from Mt Albert!
Vote:My dollars worth:
Don’t underestimate the Nat machine. I don’t think Cosby Textor was involved in this campaign. They are full time looking after Number 1. He is an ongoing liability.
The Greens did not do as well as many hoped, but Norman got traction nation-wide where it counts.
Melissa Lee is a nice person who represented the Nacts view of Mt Albert very ably. The problem was it did not connect with the locals or the MSM.
Boscawen illustrated the degree of support for Rodney and his madcap reforms. If Rodney continues as at present, this is a one term government.
In not so many months, New Zealanders will realise their vote for a change was a mistake. They will pine for the security of a Michael Cullen resurgence.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Maybe i’m missing something, but the great Labor machine took the vote from 20157 to 13260. Thats an aweful lot of Labor voters who couldn’t be bothered even though Labor threw everything at it.
Greens increased their votes by a good margin, so they can take heart that even in safe Labor, they have good support and can motivate it (2019->2567), THE ONLY INCREASE IN OVERALL votes!
ACT held its own in terms of votes versus turnout, so a steady result, not a vote for or against.
National lost LOTS of ground, but they probably didn’t care as 1/ it was safe Labor, 2/ its not election time 3/ they distracted people from a few things that were going on, hence maintaining their popularity (at ML’s expense) 4/ ML got some blooding and proved that in the right electorate she could find people who support her “run off at the lip” approach.
In other words, boring sideshow, now bring back the main ACT. I can see councils consolidating into one super council per region (Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, etc, etc). Imagine the squawking as the bureaucrats have to find real jobs.
Vote:June 25th, 2009 at 8:21 am
badmac has an inflated view of what ACT can and will do.Rodney Hide will not take his battleaxe to blue ribbon rural National seats where local government is strong and representative.
Vote:Councils are communities, just like Auckland. Communities are people who feel engaged by some contact with their political masters.
The anger of voters,aimed at local and national politicians, is because they cannot adequately protest their point of view or disagreement with decisions.
That anger is magnified the more you combine councils, especially rural and urban combinations. Bigger councils are not better.
Look at the political process in London and Washington where there is anger against all incumbewnt politicians who hide themselves away until the next election and then raise huge amounts of money or use the political pork barrel.
Rodney Hide’s yellow coat reveals him as what he is – a show pony of little substance.In fact, the ACT party I believe are a disaster .
June 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Neil – A disaster like your grasp of grammar or the lack of knowledge on ACT and the real issues? I’m not too sure why you decided to pull that one out from nowhere.
Seriously. If you want more Government bossing you about then be my guest, but I’d rather you had that and leave the rest of us to enjoy a freer country.
Vote:June 26th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Peter (152): Rusty Kane, winner of the most ironically named party…
Ironic in that “The Peoples Choice Party it is surly not! the Peoples Choice. And the name Rusty Kane is ironic… In that Rusty he is not.. He was claimed to be the most awesomely named candidate. Who didn’t know he had five family members living in Mt Albert.
Rusty Kane, winner of the most ironically named party…and most awesomely named candidate.
Now thats a headline none of the other candidates could aspire to or achieve.
Vote: