There is an extraordinary story in yesterday’s Sunday Star Times. It follows up the Herald on Sunday from the previous week in returning to McGehan Close, the street John Key went to as Opposition leader to highlight the “underclass”.

The article repeats the concerns of the family Key made famous, the Nathan’s, that they felt they had been used by Key and National. Certainly the situation around Jackie Blue giving Joan Nathan a job, sacking her after the election and then claiming it was because her office had merged looks at best disingenuous. But many in the rest of the street are also unhappy.

Some are bitter that Key has used their street for political gain. “What’s he done? Nothing,” was a common refrain.

“His biggest mistake was coming here,” says social worker Vince Tuisamoa. “It will be his Achilles heel. He’s used the street, this is the street he names all the time and yet the street is still the same, we haven’t got anything.

“He promised tax relief, but the only people he’s given it to is the top people. He offered jobs, but what jobs has he given? It’s like waiting for Santa Claus, but he doesn’t come.”

In modern politics it is easy to fall for the lure of a media opportunity, if you are not coming from a solid base of values. National felt that they could reach out to new voting constituencies in 2008, and they were successful in doing so. But if it is just about the votes, and not about the plan that you have for the future it is easy to come unstuck.

Factory worker Chandra Kumar voted for National. “I thought he [Key] might bring in good change, but all those promises were lies.”

The saddest thing in many ways is that this has reinforced in the minds of many residents that politicians in general can not be trusted. I should note that some of those interviewed in the article are critical of Labour as well, but the bottom line is that these people feel used. Many felt they were being disrespected by what Key said originally, and to make matters worse he has now discarded them after being elected.

As politicians we have got to be better than that.