Bluegreens is an independent group of New Zealanders advising the National Party on environment and heritage issues.

1 July 2002

The media prominence given to Bluegreens candidate Guy Salmon as a likely new National MP overshadows the probability that National Bluegreens MP's will out-number the Green Party in the next Parliament.

"While media attention focuses on well known environmental champion Guy Salmon as a newcomer to National ranks in the next Parliament, New Zealanders need to recognise that Guy is but one of a band of committed Bluegreens who are certain of either election or re-election," says Terry Dunleavy, national convenor of Bluegreens, a voluntary group established to advise the National Party on environmental and heritage issues.

"Among existing National MP's, those who were already paid-up Bluegreens are Hon Nick Smith, Hon David Carter, Eric Roy, Phil Heatley, Richard Worth, Pansy Wong, Alec Neill and Marie Hasler. In addition, we are assured of them being joined by Bluegreen members Guy Salmon (20th on list), Ian Buchanan (Wairarapa and 29th on list), John Key (true blue seat of Helensville) and Sandra Goudie, well ahead in Coromandel, giving us a probable total of 12 Bluegreens. If enough constituency votes go our way, and enough people vote National on the party list, we'll also have Jeremy Sole (Northcote), Dan Gordon (Waimakiriri) and Dale Stephens (Ohariu-Belmont) as well.

"As well as those National MP's actually signed up as Bluegreens, we've had active and enthusiastic supp;ort and encouragement from front-benchers such as leader Hon Bill English and justice spokesman Dr Wayne Mapp, as well as back-benchers like Belinda Vernon (transport issues) and Dr Paul Hutchison (waste management).

"Bluegreens are chuffed with the extent to which our philosophies have been incorporated into National Party policies for this election.
"New Zealanders concerned about the preservation and enhancement of our environment in a sensible, sustainable way do not need to rely on the flaky watermelon "Greens" (green on the outside but pink at heart) led by Jeannette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald. They can rely on the National Party, which appointed the first ever Minister of the Environment, Right Hon Duncan Macintyre way back in 1969, whose mantle has been assumed most recently by the visionaries Hon Simon Upton, and Hon Nick Smith.

"The Bluegreen philosophy is quite simply that people matter as much as flora and fauna in our unique New Zealand environment, and that sustainable management of our natural resources is not only possible, but makes social, environmental and economic sense," said Mr Dunleavy.

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