2 February 2017

Jack McDonald selected for Te Tai Hauāuru

23 year-old Jack McDonald (Taranaki Iwi, Te Whakatōhea, Te Ātiawa) has been selected as the Green Party’s candidate for the Te Tai Hauāuru electorate for 2017, having stood for the Greens in the electorate in the last two general elections.

McDonald, former chair of the Paekākāriki Community Board, currently works as the Greens’ Māori Political and Media Advisor. He has previously worked in the offices of MPs Metiria Turei and Marama Davidson and has also held several Party roles including as a long serving member of its National Executive.

Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei welcomed McDonald's selection, saying “I have been enormously privileged to work alongside Jack and I’m very excited he will be our candidate again in 2017.

“He is a young man who can articulate the Green kaupapa across so many constituencies. He is already regarded with great mana not only in Te Tai Hauāuru but right across the Māori political realm,” said Ms Turei.

"I’m honoured to have been selected as the Green Party candidate for Te Tai Hauāuru again this year, and to be able to contribute to our strongest ever Māori campaign in 2017," said Mr McDonald.

“When I stood in Te Tai Hauāuru in 2011, it was the first time the Greens had stood in the electorate. I’m really proud to have tripled the Greens’ Party Vote in the electorate over two elections, and to have also received strong personal support.

“I’m honoured to have helped lead the work to make us a real force in Māori politics through driving the work programme of our Māori caucus, and developing our capacity as an organisation.

“I’m also proud to be considered a role model for rangatahi Māori participation in politics.

“When 70,000 young people aren’t in work or training, when homelessness is rampant in our communities, and when we are already facing the impacts of climate change, we need rangatahi Māori voices in politics more than ever.

“I will be campaigning hard to be elected as a Green Party list MP in this election. Te Tai Hauāuru voters understand that a Party Vote for the Greens will elect more Māori to Parliament, and will get two representatives in Te Tai Hauāuru for the price of one.

“If elected, I would prioritise youth issues to encourage youth participation in politics, and to channel their dissatisfaction with politics as usual and the entrenched political establishment into action”, said Mr McDonald.

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