Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia hopes a stomach stapling operation planned for this year will help provide extra energy to see out another term in Parliament.
Mrs Turia initially planned to retire from politics at the next election in 2011, but announced at the weekend that she wanted to stay beyond that.
She said her husband, George, wasn't so keen on living in Wellington rather that their home town of Wanganui, but the rest of the family loved it.
She had decided to have a gastric bypass (stomach stapling) operation with the aim of recovering in time for the 2010 political year.
Considering her weight, she had analysed the risks presented by such an operation and decided it was a better option than not having one.
"The reality for me is that I don't want to end up like so many of my relatives, who are on dialysis machines and getting amputations."
Mrs Turia assured the public the operation would be done at her own expense, and at age 65, it was not about wanting to look good.
"It really goes back to wanting to be there for my whanau, for my mokopuna whom George and I care for."
She said politics played "second fiddle" to that, but at the same time there were a number of things she wanted to get done before leaving Parliament.
"It's been an honour representing the people of Te Tai Hauauru, and here's hoping the operation gives me more energy to carry on that work."
Maori Party president Whatarangi Winiata had also talked about retiring after this term, but at the party's annual general meeting in Auckland at the weekend he also announced his intention to stay on.
NZPA