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Greens have more candidates and members than ever before

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 6:01AM
Metiria Turei said more people are wanting to be Green candidates than ever before (Felix Marwick).
Metiria Turei said more people are wanting to be Green candidates than ever before (Felix Marwick).

Greens have more candidates and members than ever before

Author
Gia Garrick,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 6:01AM

A new bout of Green Party candidates have spent the weekend mixing and mingling with the older guard.

It's a more competitive environment than the Party's ever seen before, with more candidates and members than any other year.

The Greens have been mocked by their opposition for being fresh-faced, but those faces say they've got a lot to bring to the Party.

Like TV personality Hayley Holt, who says she speaks to mainstream New Zealand.

She said she's not afraid of speaking truth to power, or of old white men.

Other well-like new candidates include human rights lawyer and United Nations consultant Golriz Ghahraman, and former Auckland mayoralty candidate Chloe Swarbrick.

But despite there only being two list places to fill, and a high chance of list movement, incumbent MP Gareth Hughes said he's excited.

"This is the biggest conference we've ever had, the most candidates we've ever had, the most members we've ever had. It's a really great time to be a Green in 2017."

Marama Davidson's also excited.

"It's a stressful time but also really exciting. We've got amazing new people coming through, as well as our committed current MPs."

Ms Swarbrick hopes for the opportunity to shake up the system.

"Showcase that politics can be done differently. There's this stereotype around politicians being liars or cheats but it doesn't have to be that way."

 

Co-leader Metiria Turei said there are more people wanting to be candidates than ever before.

"It's been a really positive conference actually and everyone's getting to know each other much better. There's a bit of competition too but it's a really fantastic collective, democratic process that we're running."

And co-leader James Shaw knows what it's like to miss out.

"In the 2011 general election I was number 15 on our list and we got 14 MPs. I was 0.02 per cent away from a seat in Parliament. It's just the nature of democracy."

 

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