Northland rugby mascot Tane the Taniwha could be eating Canterbury lamb and Waikato beef for lunch today as he squares off in a race against 13 other team mascots in the Mascot Grand National.
Tane will be testing his kicking, tackling and side-stepping skills against opponents such as Canterbury's Larry the
Lamb and Waikato's Mooloo the Cow - and if he wins, 2000 $2 air fares from Whangarei to Northland's first away game of the season will be up for grabs.
The match is against Hawke's Bay on August 9.
The promotion has been organised by provincial rugby competition sponsors Air New Zealand to publicise the upcoming season and the second birthday of the airline's "Grab-a-seat" discount airfare website.
Tane, speaking to the Northern Advocate before the big event in Christchurch's Cathedral Square this afternoon, said he was "pretty nervous" about the race and starting to feel the pressure.
He was worried his cumbersome costume would be a disadvantage and said his biggest competition would be Taranaki's Ferdinand the Bull.
"The Taranaki bull and I are mates from way back, so there could be some real niggle there," he said.
"My plan might be to take them out at the start line so I've got an advantage."
While his favourite food is said to be kina burgers, it's a different snack of choice Tane is carbo-loading with.
"Garlic bread," he said.
"Lots of garlic bread. And caffeine pills. I had some mussels too, so I should be good."
Tane's usual get-up includes black boots, but he has yet to decide whether the giant rubber feet will stay on for the race.
"I might get into some old-school Chuck Taylor's, they might be more appropriate."
Air New Zealand will be offering the cheap air fares from the winning mascot's home town from tomorrow. For information see www.grabaseat.co.nz.
