A prominent television personality is turning his talent to politics.

He also the background for political fight.

For Toi Kai Rakau Iti's father is the well-known artist activist, Tame Iti, who with his Tuhoe link, has connections across the Bay of Plenty.

Toi Iti is contesting the Kohi constituency, a Maori specific seat set up over 20 years by a retired Rotorua mayor John Keaney.

Tui is the major host of Media Tāhe bicultural current affairs show on Maori Television.

He says he's spent the last two decades writing, producing and directing while working in television.

'Since moving home to the whārua o Ruataki, I have thrown my energies into community and environmental activities,” Toi says in a statement.

He is a trustee for his hapu, Te Māhurehure; has worked for his tribal Kōmiti o Runga and earlier this year was Eastern Bay and Rotorua co-ordinator for Sustainable Backyards.

'With all the challenges we face at a local level,” Toi says, 'it is important to have effective representation at the table.

'To the benefit of the wider community, I believe I can strongly articulate, within that forum, the perspective of tangata whenua.”

Footnote: The late John Keaney introduced Maori wards to the regional council, then known as Environment Bay of Plenty, to national media interest. He said in interviews he found Maori, who farmed on large tracts of land in the region, were reticent at seeking public office, adding Maori interests were severely under-represented.