There are decisive pockets of red among the blue, but Dunedin South is not the Labour stronghold it once was.
On Saturday, National won the party vote by 1761 (special votes will change that figure).
The result surprised many people, despite the gap between National and Labour closing in recent elections, and not just since the 2007 boundary change that brought in rural areas.
Labour may have been hurt by the Greens' 4313 party votes, more than 1300 up on last time.
Booth results reveal Labour remains the major party in areas such as South Dunedin, Corstorphine, Calton Hill, Concord, Caversham and St Kilda, and Labour's Clare Curran was returned as MP, although with a reduced majority.
However, in the South Dunedin shopping area yesterday morning it was hard to find a Labour voter.
Two Dunedin South constituents told the Otago Daily Times they voted New Zealand First, which gained 2393 party votes.
Both usually voted Labour.
Nick Rogan believed Labour was "insipid".
"They do not seem to be doing anything."
Labour did not have a good term in opposition, he said.
He liked Winston Peters, the "underdog" who scored "good political points".
Eddie Gough said he voted for Mr Peters because he would keep the other parties in line, as well as making Parliament more interesting.
Tony Fahey, who lives in North Dunedin but works at Alex Campbell Menswear in South Dunedin, said many voters were alienated by Labour's socially liberal policies in its last administration, such as the ban on smacking.
The Elton John concert, rather than the election, was the top talking point for customers in the menswear shop yesterday, he said.
For mother Sharon Swift, who had been affected by the South Dunedin schools restructuring, Ms Curran performed well in an advocacy role, and got her vote.
However, she gave her party vote to National because it had done a good job and she liked John Key.
Alida McNulty, of Mosgiel, was a longtime National voter and said Mr Key was doing a good job.
Tainui farmer Sue Williams had been a National supporter all her life and liked what they were doing.
Taxi driver Mike Ravenwood, of St Kilda, said Dunedin was still a "Labour town". He was a National voter, although he was "not that passionate" about the party. He liked seeing a good balance between the parties.
James Williams, of St Clair, voted Labour, and could not understand why the party was not more popular.
Robert McAuliffe, owner of McAuliffe Jewellers, preferred to take an "apolitical" stance, out of respect to customers.
He had been a bit surprised to see the lack of Labour support, given the redundancies at Hillside Engineering. However, uncertainty about the world economy meant people might want to stick to the status quo, he said.
Two people approached had not voted; one said it made no difference who ran the country.
When contacted, Kay Murray, Alliance Party co-leader who contested the seat, was surprised at the relatively poor showing for Labour, and said she misread the mood on the hustings.
She believed low turnout played a part, and also the electorate was becoming more prosperous. St Clair, Otago Peninsula and Mosgiel were gaining people with money who were changing the demographic.
Labour's opposition to job losses at Hillside Engineering might have cut little ice, as it pursued free-market policies during its last administration, she said.
Labour stalwart Dame Dorothy Fraser, whose late husband, Bill, represented the old St Kilda electorate for 24 years, said the fight for the political centre meant there was less definition between National and Labour.
This led to voter apathy, resulting in lower turnouts, which always hurt the Left.
Tactical voting also seemed to have affected the Labour vote in Dunedin South, she said.
Some older Dunedin voters had not forgiven Labour for Rogernomics, controversial legislation on issues such as abortion, and the loss of opportunities for young people in Dunedin.
She believed Labour's announcement it would lift the retirement age was a major tactical error, as it triggered memories of Labour's unpopular superannuation surcharge.