Brian Rogers Rogers Rabbits www.sunlive.co.nz

We see them grinning on the billboards. But who are these people who want our votes?

The billboards tell us nothing, except a name and party. Those often shabby signs nailed up with bits of four by two give no real idea of why a voter should consider the photoshopped smiler.

Surely as a society, we've progressed beyond the need to have election hoardings. This is the 21st century, in case you've missed it, and we have a plethora of efficient communication systems, without the need for these shambolic, distracting and unproductive wastes, such as billboards.

This election, there has been an unprecedented level of sign vandalism, ironically fuelled by social media and those same communications networks that have rendered billboards obsolete.

It is time for electioneering on hoardings to be banned, and prospective voters to be required to delve deeper than the shallow signwriting. To be an effective voter and participator in sensible democracy, you need to know more about a candidate than a billboard can ever convey.

Vinyl faces

Rogers goes behind the scenes in search of characters of substance behind those smiling, vinyl faces. We're off to dinner with the Green Party's McLeans and are chasing the Labour folk to see what they're up to. This week we've crossed paths with National's BOP candidate Todd Muller, beating the streets.

How does a newbie politician catch the interest of the public, enough to persuade a vote from them? We know a bit about the old war horses who have battled through previous elections, some successful and others…well, you have to admire their tenacity.
But what about a fresh face, thrown into what some would say, is a sure seat? Is it enough to assume the loyal party voters will also follow the individual?

John Key has often said complacency is a danger when a party is doing well in the polls.
In Todd Muller's case, he's not taking anything for granted. He's relying on good old-fashioned foot slog to meet as many potential voters as possible, before the September 20 general election. I tagged along for part of a day, for a first-hand look at the legwork of an aspiring politician.

Todd is the National Party candidate for the BOP electorate. It's the one that wraps around the outside of Tauranga City; taking in Papamoa, Welcome Bay, the rural outskirts, Te Puna and a slice of Omokoroa. It used to feature a fair swag of rural voters, but is becoming more urban.

Todd's in the daunting position of taking over from where long-serving MP and current Health Minister, Tony Ryall, is leaving off.

Todd and National party friend Peter were busy in the heart of the bustling Papamoa shopping centre.

From there they continued door to door through the retail sector and I was interested to see how skilfully Todd assessed each situation. Some retailers and office workers were flat out, and clearly not in any position for an in-depth discussion of the state of NZ politics. Others were having a quiet afternoon, had time to vent their views, ask questions and find out a bit more about the man who wants to represent them.

Often it was simply a case of 'pleased to meet you, here's my card,” while other encounters delved into the wide gambit of NZ politics.

Todd receives a positive reception from virtually everyone he meets. People seemed impressed he's taking the time to trudge the streets. In return, Todd seems genuinely interested to hear their stories, find out their wants and needs.

Todd's background came in very in handy. Whether it was knowledge and experience gained in his years with the kiwifruit industry and later as an executive of Fonterra, he knows his stuff on the economy and has a highly-tuned grasp of business and economics.

On the other hand, his down-to-earth local knowledge also helped provide the answer to some questions.

'I've been here since I was five,” seemed equally as reassuring to many, as his substantial business pedigree.

I was waiting for Todd to walk into a hornet's nest of opposition; maybe a rampant greenie or a defiant Labour supporter. It didn't happen. It seems in this business sector of Papamoa at least, they're pretty satisfied with the general direction of the party, the government and with their years of representation by Tony Ryall.

The folk in Monroes coffee shop wanted to know what National would do about improving incentives for apprentices. They run a coffee business in tandem with a barbershop, and Andrea Kell didn't hold back on her wish to see more done for young people seeking careers. 'Our kids are our future.”

One bloke popped out of a doorway, wearing a T-shirt declaring ‘The Flux Capacitor. Making time travel possible.'

He was pretty positive about the direction of the government and the candidate's prospects, which must be encouraging for Todd; those time travellers are never wrong.

There was plenty of support for the employee 90 day trial period, which Todd says about 50 business owners said gave them confidence to take on extra staff. Only a couple had needed to use the clause, which meant a lot of jobs created that otherwise would not have been considered.

Listening

I came away from the afternoon with the impression this candidate really does care what people think and is prepared to listen and learn from voters.

While we are surrounded by faces on billboards pleading 'Pick me” it's good to know that beneath the corflute are some candidates who are hardworking and trustworthy; who are really prepared to listen and try their best to represent what their constituents want.

Coming soon: Dinner with the Greens.

Do they really walk the talk?