July 26, 2000

Hon Richard Prebble
Leader
Act Party

Dear Richard,

I have noted in the past week your press statement, faxes to Coromandel businesses, pamphlets in Coromandel letterboxes and your speech in Auckland, all of which criticise the Green Party's stance on the Employment Relations Bill, and all of which target me personally and the Coromandel electorate.

Although some of the information you are disseminating is misleading, especially regarding the Greens' aim to restrict the over-used process of parliamentary urgency, we welcome your new interest in the Coromandel. There are many examples in New Zealand's recent history of an electorate benefitting from attention by competing political parties. For this reason your decision not to stand a candidate in Coromandel last year was regretable. In the Auckland Chambers of Commerce speech titled "Employment Relations Bill Changes - All Spin and No Substance", however, you go a lot further than merely criticising my stance on the Employment Relations Bill. For example you say about me: "You can not doubt the sincerity of a person's commitment to the environment who recycles their own human waste, you just don't want to accept their invitation to dinner."

I am surprised that you are making such a strong public attack against my home, when you have never visited it.

Therefore I extend a sincere invitation for you to visit my family's farm in the Kauaeranga Valley on Friday evening after your planned speaking tour of the electorate. I am happy to enlighten you on the practical benefits, environmentally, financially and healthwise, of our lifestyle. You may be particularly interested in how our use of insulation, wind-power, solar energy and recycling technologies are relevant to your party's ethos of personal control and responsibility.

If you agree to come, please contact my staff to arrange a convenient time. I also invite you, despite your speech, to stay for dinner.

Yours sincerely,

Jeanette Fitzsimons MP, Co-Leader, Green Party

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