21 May 2013

Green Party to Contest Ikaroa Rāwhiti By-Election

The Green Party has decided to contest the Ikaroa Rāwhiti by-election.

Nominations for the Green Party candidacy have opened and a candidate selection meeting will be held on Friday 24 May.

“The Green Party has attracted a great deal of support from Māori communities over the years. We can return that support with a campaign to win Ikaroa Rāwhiti with a great candidate,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“The Green Party wants to give Ikaroa Rāwhiti voters a real choice in this by-election. There are big issues facing whānau and communities across the rohe.

“Our party vote in the Māori seats jumped at the last election and now Māori voters in Ikaroa Rāwhiti have the opportunity to have a Green Party MP of their own in Parliament.

“We know that there are many exciting opportunities for Ikaroa Rāwhiti, not the least being sustainable economic development to provide decent jobs, instead of risking the environment with dangerous mining.

“Whānau need affordable, healthy housing, good jobs that pay a living wage and educational opportunities for our tamariki based on our cultural strengths. Te Reo is under threat and we need more support to retain our taonga. Similarly there are many challenges with our whenua, Māori land issues are complex but real opportunities for positive change also exist.

“Our Green Party candidate will want to work closely with whānau, hapū and iwi on these and other issues to develop the exciting potential of communities throughout the Ikaroa Rāwhiti electorate.

“We honour Parekura Horomia's years of commitment to whānau and the whenua. He too focused on the fundamentals, housing, employment and education for rangatahi.

“I look forward to the chance to have another Māori MP join me and our Green team in Parliament.”

Authorised by Metiria Turei and Russel Norman, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 

ENDS

© Scoop Media