Opinion: Campaign heating up between Waiariki rivals

Te Ururoa Flavell and Tamati Coffey are going to make it an interesting campaign period. Photo/file

If the excitement on Facebook over the building rivalry between Te Ururoa Flavell and Tamati Coffey is anything to go by, we will have lots of voters at this year's election and plenty of fun choosing who to vote for along the way.

Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell pulled out a pearler this week when he challenged his Waiariki seat opponent Labour's Tamati Coffey to a race - either a half marathon or a quarter ironman. He's suggested to make it a fundraiser for Edgecumbe flood victims.

It was all in the name of proving to Mr Coffey that he's not too old to do his job - a claim which it transpires came from Mr Coffey's sister on Facebook.

Mr Flavell is fit as a fiddle - we hear he won his age group in the Taupo IronMaori event -
and no doubt backs himself to come out on tops in a physical race against Mr Coffey.

Mr Coffey is no coach potato. He's competed in about eight half marathons, he tells us, and isn't afraid of such challenges.

But he's not keen on the race idea, because he says there are more important issues. Instead, he's challenged Mr Flavell to a proper debate - with the topic being Te Ture Whenua Maori Act.

Charge $10 at the door, Mr Coffey says, and the proceeds can go to the Edgecumbe folk.

Mr Flavell has responded to that wero (challenge) with glee, but has suggested both challenges be carried out. Mr Coffey is still adamant not to have the race.

With each posting on Facebook, there's more and more comments from supporters in both camps. It kept our newsfeeds buzzing for more than a day.

Such excitement from mainly local Maori over politics is brilliant. Let's get this campaign cooking, hook everyone in and see more people out there having an opinion and ultimately voting this year.

If we can all raise a few dollars for our Waiariki electorate friends in Edgecumbe along the way, surely it's a good result.