Long-serving Ngati Kahungunu Iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana is leading from the front in seeking re-election this year, three years after saying the current term would be his last.
The 67-year-old, who has been in the chair since 1996, had a knee replacement last year and has shed 20kg, meaning he's much more confident of being able to keep up the hectic pace than he was in May 19 when signalled a retirement at the iwi's triennial elections this year.
While he was "struggling to get around" back in 2019, the restoration of the legs to a more supporting role and the rearrangement of the body mass mean he's "as fresh as a daisy" and ready to go another around, although he also supports the candidacy of chairmanship rival Bayden Barber.
He takes even more comfort that some well-known leaders in or approaching the twilight years are still going strong, even if their actual performance is oft-debated.
![Ngahiwi Tomoana has been the chair of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated since 1996. Photo NZME](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/2VTVKCXUL43PAUXODWWKKZ3ZFI.jpg?auth=5976e741031b952f836efba7b313172a873e17daf4a1ff11b31d7294a4ff01e2&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)