Around 100 Green Party members including six Green MPs will meet over the weekend for a two day gathering to discuss policy issues, candidate selection, political strategy and campaigns.

The conference will be held at the Outward Bound Conference Centre at Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds and runs from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Nandor Tanczos is in South Africa and will miss the meeting.

"Our summer gathering is an opportunity for new and old members alike to informally discuss a wide range of issues and strategies," said Green Party Co-convenor Marg O'Brien.

The focus of the annual gathering is on policy development in the lead up to the next election but there will also be discussion on the Green Party's involvement in this year's local body elections, candidate selection procedures for the next general election and running issues-based campaigns at the local level.

The Green Party MPs will also brief the party on policy issues such as superannuation, seek feedback on their performance and discuss how to strengthen the relationship between the parliamentary team and the grassroots of the party.

"With the Green Party's membership almost doubling since the election this conference is a great opportunity to make the most of the extra energy and enthusiasm within the party," said Dr O'Brien.

Dr O'Brien said that she was also hoping the two days would give the members an opportunity to relax and enjoy being in one of the most beautiful parts of the country before the hard work of another political year begins.

Dr Marg O'Brien: 04 499 1981 All MPs available on cell phones, but reception is poor. Messages on 03 574 2016 Some sessions may be closed to the media

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

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