Whangarei's NZ First candidate battle: Shane Jones v Shane Reti

Shane Jones' presence as a NZ First candidate in Whangarei will breathe life into the this electorate's contest in 2017.

It's been a one-trick-pony race dominated by National for decades.

Jones' NZ First Whangarei candidacy has been rumoured for months now and should be announced tomorrow. If not, it will be a surprise.

And Chris Leitch, who is expected to run in Whangarei for the Democrats for Social Credit Party, will have new political respect. On June 6 Leitch stated Jones would not be a NZ First candidate.

In doing so, Leitch raised Jones' historic movie viewing habits and indiscretions with government-funded credit cards.

Jones, of course, isa former Labour party politician who at one point vied for the party leadership.

Leitch also teaches dance. It will be interesting to see if his mouth is as quick as his feet, if he has to explain his inaccurate prediction.

Personally, much of what flows forth from Jones' mouth (and there is much, he is an erudite e hoa) goes over my head. But I respect Jones. He fronted and confronted the credit card saga - other politicians have gone to ground for less. Jones didn't.

Can he win a seat that former Labour leader David Shearer failed to dent?

Admittedly, Shearer wasn't Labour leader at the time, he had barely arrived back in the country from overseas and hit the campaign trail. Whangarei folk don't take kindly to strangers asking for votes.

Jones is no stranger but Whangarei is a conservative electorate that does not have the dysfunction of the Northland electorate, where NZ First leader Winston Peters sniffed blood before the 2015 bye-election.

National's Dr Shane Reti is on health and Maori affairs select committees and is deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs, defence and trade select committee. He is a future Health Minister.

If Jones loses, he will presumably be high enough on the NZ First party list to make it back into Parliament. The two Shanes in Parliament will also be a good thing for Whangarei.

And Northland would have unprecedented Maori representation as well.

Sit back and enjoy the ride. It's going to be a blast.