Current and former Whanganui MPs meet

Former Whanganui MP Russell Marshall (left) and present MP Chester Borrows at the Home & Lifestyle show over the weekend. Mr Russell was in town supporting Mr Borrows' rival, Hamish McDouall. PHOTO/FILE marshall-borrows

Former Whanganui MP Russell Marshall has not lost his passion for politics, 24 years after leaving Parliament.

He was in Wanganui at the weekend, the first time he'd been back during an election campaign since he won in 1987. And he enjoyed it so much he wants to come back on polling day.

Mr Marshall, who held the seat for Labour from 1972-1990 was supporting Hamish McDouall in his third tilt at the seat.

"I've had a bit more to do with the [Labour] party in recent times," he said. "It's nice when I know we've got a good candidate and I can give him a bit of moral support. I expect when he gets to Parliament he'll be a senior pro."

Mr McDouall took Mr Russell for a tour around the city and talked politics and hobbies.

Mr Russell, who now lives in Porirua, said it had been great catching up with people he hadn't seen for years and seeing how the town had developed, especially along the river front. "I was greatly impressed."

Meanwhile, the former cabinet minister expected a tight election race for Whanganui. "It's a nice clean campaign in my impression. They're both acceptable and popular candidates," he said.

While at the Home & Lifestyle Show he also ran into Whanganui MP and Mr McDouall's rival, Chester Borrows. "I've got nothing against Chester. I know Chester reasonably well, and he's a good MP."

However, he was still backing Mr McDouall. "He's got to get quite a few more votes for himself in Wanganui than he has before."

Mr Marshall hoped to soak up the polling-day atmosphere in Wanganui in just under two weeks, whether it was scrutineering or handing out sandwiches. "I suggested I might. I hope I can do that. It's important. We do need to take elections seriously."