The Green Party have appointed Liz Thomas to the newly created position of Party Development Co-ordinator.

Announcing the appointment, Green Party co-convenor Richard Davies said that with party membership almost doubling since the 1999 election one of Liz' main priorities will be strengthening the party's branch structure throughout New Zealand.

Ms Thomas will be based in Wellington and will be responsible for ensuring that the party is well organised and funded in order to vigorously contest the 2002 general election.

Ms Thomas was a Green councillor on the Wellington City Council between 1992 - 95 and stood as a candidate in the Waitakere electorate as the Green Party candidate on the Alliance ticket in the 1996 general election.

She has also been a County Councillor in Golden Bay for the five years between 1984 - 89 and has been an active member of the Green Party since the party was established in 1990.

"This job will be challenging and exciting," said Ms Thomas. "My vision is to build a strong and effective Green Party which will contribute to a more sustainable nation."

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