I've watched with interest the Northland electorate's by-election play out after National MP Mike Sabin quit under cloudy circumstances.

For the last few weeks it's seemed a no-brainer Winston was going to take Northland by storm. You only have to drive up North to see the differences between some of Northland's towns – Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Morewa – to those of other electorates of similar origins.

National has left Northland behind – no doubt about it – but is Winnie the right man for the job?

After all, he was an MP here in Tauranga – and while most seem to dislike him from his term here, they still say: ‘But Winston did get us our bridge'. And, has Northland now sealed its fate of playing a big role of shifting the balance of power in Government?

The next two-and-a-half years will be interesting to watch – as both Winnie and National made big promises for our most northern electorate, to boost it's health both economically and socially. Let's see if they both deliver.

K Morland, Katikati.