While Wellington Central MP and aspiring Labour Party leader Grant Robertson may be seen as a city boy, he has a link with the provinces - particularly Hawke's Bay.
"I lived here from the age of 18 months through to when I was 6 ... went to Mayfair Primary School," he said yesterday as he called back into the Bay as part of the 12 party leadership meetings being staged across the country.
Accordingly, he has embraced the region as it had picked up rugby's greatest prize last Sunday - the Ranfurly Shield ... although the Magpies took it from the team he supported during the years he lived in Dunedin.
"Here's the deal," Mr Robertson said with a smile. "You can keep it against Counties and then for the next two challenges and then I'll take it back with me to Wellington."
But rugby was the real winner and he was delighted the Bay had got it back after "44 long years - great stuff".