Tame Iti rides into Rotorua (+ video)

ON HIS BIKE: Maori Party list candidate Tame Iti rode with supporters into Rotorua yesterday as part of a bike ride tour to Auckland. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 040914BF11

It's an election campaign on two wheels for Maori Party list candidate Tame Iti.

The once political protester is making a bid to change things from within the Beehive as he rode into Rotorua yesterday from his home in Ruatoki on his way to Auckland. The cycle tour called "Tame Tu, Tame Ora" is a show of support for his party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell and his fellow party candidates.

"Some parties do the talking while others do the walking. This is going to be three days to sweat it out, breathe in, breathe out and pump up the magic for the Maori Party," he said.

"I cycle all the time, to Raglan especially when [late Maori land rights campaigner] Eva [Rickard] was still around," he said.

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The 280km bike ride will take Mr Iti and his team through the Maori electorates of Waiariki, Hauraki Waikato and Tamaki Makaurau. Mr Iti is accompanied by his support crew of two riders and a campervan.

The Tuhoe health worker, artist and IronMaori contender said he had the upmost respect for the Maori Party candidates who were travelling the length and the breadth of the country to gather support.

"I hope the cycle relay motivates people to think about policies, get on the roll and vote for the Maori Party," he said.

Mr Iti was also at the Rotorua Central Mall yesterday with local list candidate Eraia Kiel and the Night Market last night before visiting Waiariki Institute of Technology today with Maori Party co-leader and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell.