Kiwiblog

Sunday News reports:

INGA Tuigamala used to smash opponents on the footy field – now he wants to smash some Pacific Islanders dependence on the dole and DPB.

And the former rugby and league star has confirmed he would consider running for Parliament in 2011 if offered a spot on the National Party list.

I think it is great that Inga wants to make a difference. And for National there would obviously be a huge political advantage in having him stand.

However for Inga’s sake, I would suggest he chats to a couple of new MPs about what life is really like in Parliament.  Your ability to (for example) change welfare policy is relatively limited initially. Backbench MPs have to spend a lot of time serving on select committees, asking patsy questions in the House, and helping constituents. The policy side (which is what motivates many), takes a while to influence.

I think Inga as an MP would be an awesome role model for many Pacific Islanders. But I would hate him to end up in a job he doesn’t find satisfying.

The Herald reports:

Former All Blacks Michael Jones and Inga Tuigamala have today backed John Key’s National Party. …

“We don’t want our people just working in factories”, said Tuigamala. “We want them starting to own those factories.”

They were attending National leader John Key’s announcement of his party’s plan to create five new trades academies, which was made at the Southern Cross campus, a centre for Maori and Pacific Island education located in Mangere, Auckland.

Pity they are not standing – the parliamentary rugby team woud be much improved!

The Herald on Sunday also focused on some endorsements, which were interesting:

• Sir Paul Reeves – Labour party vote, Maori Party electorate vote – used to give Labour electorate vote
• Graham Lowe – voting ACT after 40 years with Labour
• Oscar Kightley – remaining Labour
• Miriama Smith – Greens on both votes – used to give Labour electorate vote
• Michael Hill – National – has never endorsed before
• Bevan Docherty – voting National – normally a Labour voter

So of the six people, two are defecting on the party vote from Labour, and two defecting on the electorate vote.

UPDATE: Colin Espiner blogs:

… getting Inga and Michael Jones on board is a stroke of genius. The pair are absolute legends amongst their communities – well, the whole country actually – but particularly in South Auckland. They were mobbed at Southern Cross school by ecstatic youngsters who knew exactly who they were, despite the fact that most of them weren’t even born when these guys last played.

At Progressive, Inga and Michael drew a big crowd of mainly Pacific Island workers in their overalls and steel caps, who cheered and clapped after they spoke.

I know what you’re thinking. So what? It was the rugby heros they were applauding, not Key. And yet talking to some of them afterwards, it was clear they were mighily impressed that Key had the support of Inga and Michael. And they didn’t just endorse Key. They called him their friend, and told the factory workers that they could trust him and he would make their lives and their families lives better.

The pair argued that while Labour had worked hard for Pacific people, there was nothing to be feared from change and that their community should lift its sights. “We don’t want to just work in this factory, we should own this factory. Our children should own this factory,” Jones told them. It was a powerful message.