His boots are made for walking. And that is just what Invercargill MP Eric Roy plans to do.
The walking will be part of a Southern odyssey covering 320km around the electorate. It will be broken up into 16 stages.
The 63-year-old National MP, who tips the scales at 140kg, has been soaking his feet in methylated spirits in preparation for the walking.
His first walk will begin in Bluff this morning.
"When you have been around and the polls are good, it doesn't matter what you are doing, people say you are sleeping to victory, so I have decided to do walking for victory."
The aim of the walk was to talk to constituents, with the bonus of improving his health, he said.
"It will be a welcome change from sitting in the House; to get into the outdoors."
Mr Roy said he would walk rain, hail or shine, but might might resort to his mountain bike if blisters took their toll.
"I have done the old musterers' trick of soaking your feet in meths for a couple of nights."
He plans to finish the walking on November 3 in Orepuki, Western Southland.
