Green Party Confirms Co-Leader as Mt Albert Nominee

Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman has been nominated as a Green candidate for the Mt Albert by-election. A selection meeting convenes next Wednesday to consider his nomination.

“Russel is our only nominee and our Party will decide next week whether to confirm him as our candidate,” said Green Party Co-Convenor Roland Sapsford today.

“A Co-Leader’s been nominated because a lot of what’s important to Auckland is important to the Green Party. With a well-known candidate we can talk with a larger audience about issues like good governance and a decent rail system for the Auckland region.”

The by-election is a chance to send the National-led Government a message, said Dr Norman: “If we do this, we’ll be the underdog, but it is a great chance for voters to make the old parties listen to them on Auckland governance, Auckland’s transport problems, Auckland’s electricity supply as well as on the region’s beaches and open spaces.

“These are all areas where the Green Party has consistently offered answers and listened to local communities.”

The transport dilemma is a classic example, said Dr Norman: “The old parties are arguing over two bad ideas in Waterview. They want to either bulldoze a suburb or blow $3 billion. The Green Party offers a better solution. We would fix the public transport system first, relieve congestion and give Aucklanders a faster, cheaper way to get to work and the airport.”

Nationwide issues would also be under scrutiny in the by-election Dr Norman said: “The Greens stand for a fairer and more sustainable society in New Zealand. Our long and hard-fought campaign for warm, dry, healthy homes is one example.”

Dr Norman lived in the neighbouring Auckland Central electorate for five years. He indicated that, if confirmed as a candidate and ultimately successful in the by-election, he would move back to Auckland.

Should the Green Party pull off an upset win in Mt Albert, the Chief Electoral Office has advised that another list member would join the Greens in Parliament. The Green’s next list member is Aucklander Dave Clendon.

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