In the first of a series looking at the electorates in our patch ahead of September's election Zaryd Wilson casts an eye over Rangitikei.
Rangitikei is a true blue electorate and that is not likely to change this September.
National has held the seat as long as it has existed as a party, aside from six years (1978-84), when it was held by Social Credit's Bruce Beetham.
Labour last held it for one term in 1935 when Michael Savage was prime minister.
All things point to incumbent Ian McKelvie winning a third term.
Having entered Parliament in 2011 after a stint as Manawatu Mayor, Mr McKelvie increased his majority at the 2014 election from 9300 to 11,060.
Of his challengers this time around, only Act's Neil Wilson returns from 2014 for another crack.
Former teacher and union worker Heather Warren is standing for Labour while the Greens have put up Robin McCandless after not standing anyone in 2014.
New Zealand First will be represented by Rob Stevenson.
The Rangitikei electorate has existed since 1861 but has grown in that time to be the third largest in the North Island.
It stretches from Taumarunui in the north to Shannon in the south while starting just out of Whanganui in the west to the eastern side of, but not including, Palmerston North.
It's a sparsely populated area, with some of the best scenery in the country, but one that is crying out for attention from Government.
At a candidates' forum in Marton on Thursday there were three questions from the floor summed up the issues for the electorate this election.
One man asked what candidates would do for regional development.
Communities like Rangitikei were second off the rank to a focus on Auckland.
A teenager asked what candidates would do for the many people his age who were living with mental health issues.
And then Rangitikei District mayor Andy Watson stepped up to raise one of the biggest issues facing the district.
"One of the challenges for a district like ours is we have a large number of reasonably small towns and a big geographical spread," he said.
"But the goalposts keep changing for us."
He said as a council there were new drinking water standards, changes on standards for wastewater and earthquake legislation to deal with.
"The difficulty that we have with this is that Government used to be, years ago, a partner in some of that key infrastructure," Mr Watson said.
"And now it seems as though it's very difficult for me to get money for our district if it isn't for a stadium or an art gallery..."
This election Rangitikei wants to be heard and taken notice of. And then it needs a helping hand.