Stepping out in shorts

Tauranga deputy mayor Kelvin Clout, Tauranga mayor Greg Brownless, MP for the Bay of Plenty Todd Muller and Western Bay of Plenty mayor Garry Webber. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

Some of Tauranga's bigwigs will be baring their legs in the middle of winter this year and it's all for a good cause.

Local politicians are trading in their suit pants for shorts to mark this year's shortest day – June 21 – to support the Shorts 4 Waipuna campaign.

MP for Bay of Plenty Todd Muller, Tauranga mayor Greg Brownless, Western Bay of Plenty mayor Garry Webber and Tauranga deputy mayor Kelvin Clout will be showing some skin in support of Waipuna Hospice.

'Waipuna Hospice does such great work in our community and positively impacts on the lives of so many,” says Todd. 'It's always a pleasure to have an opportunity to support them – even if it means exposing my knobbly knees on a cold winter's morning!”

And Mayor Greg Brownless is knee-deep in the campaign, saying a pair of shorts is normal casual attire for him.

'A good pair of shorts is one in in which you feel most comfortable, a pair in which you can relax and do odd jobs around the house or in the garden.

'My favourite shorts are a bit tatty because I wear them the most.”

Tauranga city Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout says he will be grateful to wear shorts, despite the potential knock-kneed coldness.

'Thanks to Waipuna Hospice for the opportunity to bare my legs in winter!

'I applaud the fantastic job Waipuna Hospice does in our community, and will gladly endure chilly knees for the day to show my support. I particularly encourage business owners and staff to get behind this innovative fundraiser.”

If you're thinking about jumping in and donning your shorties on June 21, Todd says go ahead and do it.

'Definitely wear shorts on the shortest day of the year – June 21,” says Todd.

'This day also marks the official start of winter so if my knees are going to be exposed I think yours should be too!

'Raise some funds, raise some awareness, and raise some eyebrows with your questionable dress sense.”

'Anything to get out of a suit,” says Greg.

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