National Party governments didn't need to woo the voters there to keep it and Labour governments didn't feel it was winnable and put it in the too-hard file.
Consequently little money and even less effort have been used to improve the lot of the people in one of the country's poorest regions.
So confident were the Bluebaggers, they picked a party apparatchik to stand for them thinking all he had to do was turn up and he would be given the seat.
Only Winnie the Peters had other ideas and, in a masterful political stroke, put his NZ First hand up to take on the Blue machine.
Winnie was instantly pooh-poohed by his opponents from the PM down through Cabinet to the lowest reaches of the Government's list MPs.
He ignored them and chose the perfect slogan to unite all the disparate groups angry at being ignored.
It was: "Send them a Message."
Defying his advancing years, he hopped on a bus and toured the breadth and length of the electorate bringing that cheeky smile and twinkling eyes to the people.
It was a hard fight and he knew he had a lot of ground to make up.
The previous MP, Mike Sabin, who resigned had a majority of about 9300.
Okay, Winnie had masses of ground to make up.
But the hard work began to pay off and, when a poll put him comfortably ahead of his opponent, the Nats panicked.
All of a sudden, the party heavyweights were there in packs telling voters how much they were loved by the Beehive Boys. Ahh, such honeyed words, but they fell upon deaf ears.
Then came the offer of $70 million for 10 new bridges.
See, we really care about you, they said. Only the Nats' candidate couldn't name all the bridges.
"Pork barrelling," cried their rivals, "blatant election bribery."
The Nats just shook off the allegation as it had always worked before if things were a little shaky.
Even campaigning by the seemingly Teflon-clad Prime Minister wasn't turning the tide. Perhaps he should have read a little about King Canute before trying.
It came to naught though as the Peters tidal wave rolled on to victory - by some 4000 votes.
The win for NZ First means the National Government's majority is now wafer thin.
This means issues that need to be discussed widely and considered carefully cannot be just rammed through Parliament on National Party votes alone.
The deal with the Act Party means it can rely on that one vote, but they will also need to get the tick from either Peter Dunne or the Maori Party. While that won't often be a problem, on issues such as the Resource Management Act changes, National may have to shave off the more radical points to get assent.
I'm hoping it means that government MPs will listen more to the public on matters and will not be so ideologically driven. I don't hold out any hopes that Gerry Brownlee or Steven Joyce will change, but you never know.
Well done Winston. You fought the good fight and won.
Not bad for someone of whom Key said: "I don't think he's got any chance of winning it."
I LIKE Jesse Ryder ... except for one thing.
The immensely talented cricket star got to hop in the boxing ring against blogger Cameron Slater before I could.
I know, I know ... Slater's at least 20 years younger than me but I reckon I could teach him a bit about Queensbury Rules and, in between jabs, the difference between a journalist and a blogger.
-Richard@richardmoore.com
Richard Moore is an award-winning Western Bay journalist and photographer
