Majority gives National clear mandate - MP

Wairarapa electorate winner National's Alastair Scott with partner Robyn Noble-Campbell at the Masterton Club celebrating the win with supporters. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Most would say it was a landslide for the National Party in the Wairarapa and nationally but Alastair Scott sees it as a clear mandate from the people of New Zealand that the party is on the right track.

On Saturday, as the final results showed Mr Scott had a clear majority over his closest rival, Labour candidate Kieran McAnulty, a group of National supporters in the Masterton Club shouted out their pleasure as the champagne corks popped.

None were more excited than Mr Scott and partner Robyn Noble-Campbell who beamed from ear to ear.

During his victory speech his mobile rang with Mr McAnulty on the other end congratulating the new MP.

Mr Scott was not surprised by the win but was shocked about the huge margin.

"I was confident we'd win but I didn't think we'd do it by such a huge majority," he told the Wairarapa Times-Age.

Mr Scott had romped ahead of Mr McAnulty by 6228 votes with 14,913 of the 34,145 total counted. Mr McAnulty received 8684 votes, followed by New Zealand First candidate Ron Mark with 8006.

Mr Scott said people clearly didn't want change.

"It's a good result. I trusted Kiwis to voted the right way and they got what they wanted. They didn't want Winston ... it's a pragmatic result. We [voters] have given ourselves exactly what we wanted. We didn't need a change of Government at this point," he said. "In hindsight, people knew we needed a majority so the balance of power potentially wouldn't be mucked around with. They didn't want anyone playing piggy in the middle."

The result showed a clear mandate from the people of New Zealand that they wanted National at the helm, Mr Scott said. "This is mandate we are on the right track."

He says voters in the electorate were looking for experience and ability and that's why he won the seat.

"People could see through all the nonsense out there and they knew it was experience which was the important factor, not where I was born," Mr Scott, who won the seat with a 6228 vote majority, said.

"That experience includes international and local business and in the charitable sector. I understand the issues facing small business owners, exporters and charities, because I have been involved with them here in Wairarapa for the past 15 years.

"Wairarapa voters wanted an MP in Parliament who was part of a winning team and with experience in all the right areas," he said. "It's about working hard for the electorate and I will be pushing for rural New Zealand in Parliament.

"Our rural towns and their main streets are shrinking and we need to boost them for the good of us all."

Mr Scott said he will also be going in to bat for two major water projects in the electorate, the Ruataniwha dam in Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa water scheme.

Broadband was another issue he was looking at.

"I can't do it on my own," he said. "We need to lock in the gains of the last six years and we have just got a strong mandate from the people of New Zealand to do so."

Meanwhile, Mr Scott's supporters say he will serve the region well.

Campaign manager Bill Knight said he was thrilled with the Mr Scott's success.

"He so deserved this. He's a top man and will do us well," he said.

Kelvin and Margaret Biggs held the first house meeting for Mr Scott prior to him being elected candidate.

"We knew from the start he was the right person," Mr Biggs said.