Barry Soper: Winston Peters is a product of electoral system

When you've been around in politics for as long as Winston Peters you're bound to make many enemies, not just among the great unwashed but within the political beltway itself.

After his first MMP decision to go with National back in 1996 he was loathed by Labour who were kept expectantly dangling for 10 weeks while he made up his mind. Then in 2005 he was loathed by National when he rejected Don Brash in favour of Helen Clark, so much so that three years later John Key declared publicly that he didn't want a bar of him in his Government and he spent the next three years in the political wilderness, and out of government for nine years, waiting to get his own back.

And even within his own party he's made enemies from those who were once close to him. His original, sole political bench mate Tau Henare had a fairly spectacular falling out and ended up on the Tory team. And when he was at his most powerful with a caucus of 17 MPs the fallout was equally spectacular with the so-called tight five Maori MPs becoming loose heads, with some of them getting into bed with the new Prime Minister Jenny Shipley who'd sacked Peters when he opposed Wellington Airport being privatised.

Seeing the way Wellington Airport now operates, it's a pity that Peters didn't get his way!

So today the New Zealand First Board, that Peters would have us believe holds the future government of the country in their hands, jets into the capital. In reality the board is made up of Winston Peters' clones in terms of their thinking. On this one he'll do their thinking for them and they'll simply ratify it.

The delay over the weekend when it comes to making a decision, using the board as an excuse, was all about making National and Labour sweat which no doubt saw them giving away more than they had intended.

One of Peters' former friends, who like so many has become a foe, says the board is there because the party has to have a constitution. Unlike other political parties, New Zealand First doesn't entertain the idea of their president dropping into a caucus meeting, so rather than being the Holy Grail, as it's being painted, it's an empty platter.

That'll come as something of a relief to those who feel the unnamed, mysterious board shouldn't now be deciding which party wins the crown. They'd probably also argue though that Winston Peters shouldn't be the final arbiter either.

But he's a product of the electoral system and at least he's got plenty of experience on his side, and in fairness, he has made a fair fist of the jobs he's held in both National and Labour governments.