Tauranga rugby star Matua Parkinson has put his hand up to run for city council, swapping boots for books.
The 35-year-old is best known for having captained the New Zealand Sevens team to the world championship, playing for the Maori All Blacks and the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL.
Mr Parkinson has also played for Japanese rugby club Sanix and still plays club rugby for Rangataua in the Baywide competition.
And from his pre-election talk, it seemed his time on the field was already influencing his approach to politics.
"I don't mind getting into the rough and tumble of politics but as I see it, you get greater success by playing the ball and not the man," Mr Parkinson said.
Stepping into council chambers would be a change for the father of three boys, but Mr Parkinson says as a younger candidate, he can "breathe some life into this council and bring some new ideas.
He is standing for the Te Papa/Welcome Bay ward.
"I am standing as an independent because I am my own man and will form my own views," he said.
He was being careful not to make specific promises though.
"It would be too easy to say I am going to charge in there and lower rates and get new roads built, and save the environment.
"However, the work of the council needs people who can listen and think their way through situations and then make good decisions rather than rash decisions."
Mr Parkinson lives in Tauranga with wife Cheri and his boys.
He said he was standing for the election because he believed "one should put into the community, as a way of being in the community".
The choice of which ward to run in though, was difficult.
"I spend a lot of time in the Avenues and Greerton but as of recently I live in Otumoetai, where we have moved for a while, to assist with family.
"I trust the voters won't cane me for not living in the Te Papa Welcome Bay ward at this moment, but I decided this is the area where I feel most connected," he said.
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