Michael Jones' political football up in air

Former All Black Michael Jones is not ruling out a tilt at a political career with National as he joins Prime Minister John Key on a goodwill tour of the Pacific.

Mr Jones and fellow ex-All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala are members of a big party of mayors, businesspeople, MPs and a hip-hop dance troupe helping Mr Key fly the New Zealand flag on a whistlestop tour of Pacific nations.

But it is Mr Jones and Mr Tuigamala who have lent the delegation star power: they are bigger names in the Pacific than Mr Key.

The rugby players caused a stir in the Pacific Island community when they endorsed Mr Key's bid for government ahead of the 2008 election. The Pacific Island community has traditionally voted Labour.

But Mr Jones made it clear yesterday he remains a fan and applauded Mr Key's take on Pacific aid an issue which has loomed large on Mr Key's tour.

Mr Key has used each leg of his tour to announce a substantial boost in aid to each country he has visited.

But there has been criticism of National's shift in aid focus away from poverty elimination to economic development.

"Poverty action is critical but how do you ensure at that commercial [private enterprise level], that money does flow down and our young people are able to assert their dreams and aspirations? It's getting that balance right," Mr Jones said.

National made no secret of its desire to lure Mr Jones into a political career last election and he said yesterday it was not off the table, but not right now. As a rugby player he had travelled extensively and it was time to focus on family.

"I couldn't put my hand on my heart and say I've ruled it out and if I felt I could make a strong contribution to the aspirations of Pacific Island people in New Zealand, certainly I'll put my hand up. But at this season in my life it's not going to happen any time too soon."

Mr Key said that National would love to have Mr Jones as a candidate and the door was open.