Clarkson ready for a fight with Winston

Bob Clarkson's Tauranga home has sweeping views over to Mt Maunganui. Picture / Alan Gibson

Tauranga's new MP - and that's how Bob Clarkson was answering the phone yesterday - has not had a concession call from Winston Peters and does not expect one.

But Mr Clarkson, the wealthy builder who ended Mr Peters' 21-year hold on the seat, said the New Zealand First leader would have a fight on his hands if he tried to take back Tauranga by petitioning the High Court.

"He kept making remarks about how I had deep pockets. Tell you what, if he goes to the High Court he'll find out what deep pockets are.

"I will not have my morals or my honesty or my integrity questioned.

"If he takes me to court I will be fighting and firing all the big cannons, not the little wee machine guns." An inquiry into allegations that Mr Clarkson overspent the $20,000 cap on election expenses, sparked by a newspaper inquiry, is still being conducted by the Chief Electoral Office.

If prosecuted, he would lose the seat and a byelection would have to be held.

But Mr Peters could also decide to petition the High Court to have Mr Clarkson's election declared void on the basis of overspending.

That would be costly, though - Wyatt Creech's 1988 petition cost a little over $90,000 - and is perhaps less urgent, with New Zealand First and Mr Peters being elected to Parliament anyway, courtesy of its almost 6 per cent party vote result.

Mr Peters has not conceded defeat, and would not when he spoke to supporters on Saturday night, or to the Herald yesterday.

"I just want to say to the people of Tauranga that I am grateful to have been their MP for the past 21 years, and I'm not certain what the final outcome might be," he said on Saturday. "Predicting the demise of Winston Peters is a bit premature."

Mr Peters would not say if he might challenge the result.

Mr Clarkson, who battled not only overspending accusations but also sexual harassment claims in the last days of the campaign, has a 568-vote majority over Mr Peters, with special votes still to be counted.

Mr Peters held the seat last time by more than 10,000 votes. Despite his victory, Mr Clarkson appeared more sombre than buoyant at his $1 million-plus Tauranga home yesterday as he realised National might not be in government.

"I wasn't planning on being in Opposition."

He travels to Wellington tomorrow and said although he would be watching his words - the nation heard more than it needed to about his left testicle - he would also remember advice his wife, Martha, had offered early in their marriage.

"I've always been a bit of a country boy, shy, and I used to follow her into gatherings. She said to me, 'There's no one better in the room than you, yourself'."

Martha Clarkson said the mudslinging had not been kind.

"They want to take the humour out of Bob. People think he's a hobo. He's not. He wouldn't have all this if he didn't have a bit of nous."

Clarkson on Peters

* Winston's a bit like a duck sitting on water in shooting season. His top end is quite calm and collected but his feet are going like hell.

* He stands tall, holds his shoulders back, dresses nice, speaks nice. My only argument is he isn't a team player.