Andrew Little on Jacinda Ardern's rapid rise

Andrew Little supported his Labour Party colleagues from the crowd at the Toi Ohomai meet the candidates event. Photo/George Novak

Andrew Little says it has been "satisfying" to watch the rise and impact of Jacinda Ardern, who took over from him as leader of the Labour Party just over a month ago.

Mr Little was in Tauranga on Wednesday, sitting alongside young Labour supporters in the front row of a meet-the-candidates event at Toi-Ohomai Institute of Technology.

The former leader took a back seat to the party's local candidates but they called on him to answer a question about student loan stand down periods for immigrants.

After the event, he said he'd had to "get over an emotional hump" after stepping down as leader, a job he loved. But he had liked seeing what Ms Ardern had been able to do.

"It is very satisfying. Jacinda has got the talents and the skills to get the message out there, and get the reach.

"As a politician I want our party to win."

Life since stepping down had been "less intense to be sure".

"I have more time to read and do my own correspondence now, my emails and social media, which I find really satisfying."

In an 'only in New Zealand' turn of events, Mr Little ran into a childhood friend for the first time in nigh on 40 years yesterday: New Zealand First candidate Lester Gray.

Mr Little said the two used to holiday on adjoining farms in Te Awamutu as boys.

"We used to hang out together and feed the calves," Mr Gray said.

Gray provided proof - a sepia-toned photo of the two in togs.