Let’s not forget that the regional council results also came out yesterday. Unsurprisingly Fran Wilde and Chris Laidlaw – both former Labour MPs – romped home again, their name recognition is virtually unbeatable in an election few people care about. Judith Aitken also did very well. Interestingly the five councillors were rounded off by Paul Bruce (Green) and Daran Ponter (Labour). It’s looking like we’re going to have a very left leaning regional council. Biggest surprise: just how badly Charles Finny did – he really was thrashed coming 10th.
The candidates were: (winners in bold)
Fran Wilde – 29,395
Chris Laidlaw – 24,838
Judith Aitken – 19,589
Paul Bruce – 15,832
Daran Ponter – 14,767
Terry McDavitt – 13,444
Di Buchan – 13,279
Chris Lipscombe – 11,580
Sally Baber – 11,027
Charles Finny – 10,979
William Rainey – 9,402
Michael Cecil-Gibson – 6,338
WCC Watch 
Pity Finny missed out, good value and competent if somewhat of a know it all (ex-MFAT where that sort of thing is compulsory). Have heard good things about Ponter but no idea how he’ll fare in practice.
Laidlaw’s proven the value of name recognition again.
although you wonder why that doesn’t count against him in Laidlaw’s case — people obviously don’t listen to RNZ on Sunday mornings otherwise he’d be a goner.
I can’t stand Laidlaw.
taxi man
Do you think Ponter’s good result reflects his old-fashioned campaign, waving placards, knocking on doors and doing all the stuff that Cunningham thought was beneath him, or do you think his Labour ticket got him in, or do you think that Newtown block-voted for him?
I think the good old fashioned campaigning did the trick. No doubt helped by the likes of Eagle’s and Ganley’s similar efforts doing the same and handing out his pamphlets with theirs (at least that’s what it looked like in my letterbox).
I agree, Daran was the only new candidate who bothered to show up at the candidate meetings I went to and actually press the flesh – in stark contrast to most of the incumbents, whose sole idea of campaigning was to perhaps put a flyer in the letterbox. Although to give credit where it’s due, Paul Bruce also showed up at events to speak. Didn’t see Fran Wilde or Chris Laidlaw anyplace, though.
Good question Thomas. I think it was a number of things:
a)Standing on a Labour ticket – this provides a clear indication of my values and where I stand generally on the political spectrum. This is good and bad. Probably in equal mesure. I would venture to say that on a complcated voting paper with many candidates the Labour brand can simplify people’s decisions both in favour and against. But you cannot rely on a political brand alone – you have to make personal contact and sell yourself(see below).
b)I think it helped that I had stood twice before.
c)Good old fashioned campaigning – I door knocked approximately 3-4,000 homes across the city. I had 80,000 pamphlets delivered. I also had the benefit of teaming with people like Marcus Ganley, Paul Eagle and Leonie Gill who also door knocked and delivered pamphlets. I did sign waving with my daughter Crystal and other candidates all over the city. The response to sign waving was surprisingly positive, regardless of how ridiculous it might look.
d)Perhaps being a younger candidate – I am 42. I would venture that the majority of the candidates were 60+.
e)Having a good campaign team and support, starting early, and remaining focused.
From my observations the candidates who put in the most effort were Chris Lipscombe, Paul Bruce, Di Buchan and I. Charles Finny, Bill Rainey and Michael Gibson appeared to do very little of either passive or active engagement. Fran Wilde and Chris Laidlaw don’t have to do any campaigning – name recognition is sufficient.