I’m not a Westie. I grew up in Otahuhu and Papatoetoe. But I understand this:

We Westies are a tribal lot – we support our own people and we respect those (i.e. Bennett) who’ve done their time. We’re also not stupid and we’re tired of the urban liberal cabal with their “We know what's best for you” attitude to 'the proletariat' and simultaneous distaste for the same. Ask yourself these questions: how many of the various Labour contenders attended the recent AC/DC religious experiences? How many of them would wade into an all-in at Hendo Westfield ala Bennett? How many of them would even go to Hendo Westfield?

via Bowalley Road: Outrageous Choices.

Some years ago a liberal from the left where I went to High School. When I told her, she corrected my pronouncation into Maori. Which annoyed me> I’d lived there all my lifer (to that date) and this perfumed chardonnay socailist was telling me how to pronounce the name of my area.

The West, like the South, or Otago, or Canterbury, is tribal. Most competent political parties know this. Labour has just demonstrated, as Chris Trotter points out, that they are incompetent.

So… as Cam Slater pointed out… The official Labour site dumped all over him (and no, I won’t link to them).