New MP to fit in Far North rally

Former rally champ Paul Adams has a pitstop to make on his way to Parliament as a United Future MP.

He is competing in next month's Rally of the Far North, where he wants to become the first MP to win a car rally.

Mr Adams, 54, was the rally, rallycross and hillclimb champion in 1979-80 and has never completely given up the sport.

"I do one [rally] a year to keep the rust out of my system. For this one ... I'll see if the old fella's still got it in him."

Mr Adams is also geared up for his new career in politics, although he is under no illusion the ride ahead will be an easy one.

"Parliament is a huge ship, and a big ship when it has momentum is not that easy to turn.

"I would love to see members of Parliament respecting other parties that have great ideas for the country and not throwing them out because it came from somewhere else."

The man who once drove a rally car at up to 200km/h with Prince Edward as his passenger - in the 1983 national at Wanganui - is a pastor at the City Impact Church in Browns Bay and owns a car sales business in Albany.

Mr Adams says his focus will be on Parliament for the next three years, and he is already plotting a course for beyond one term.

"I think if we [United Future] can do a good job for the country people will continue to support us.

"The only way that will happen is if the people of the nation see that the common-sense principles we're proclaiming make sense and work in their lives.

"Otherwise, they'll throw us out."