Generation Zero Candidate Scorecards Released

Youth organisation Generation Zero today released scorecards communicating information on candidate stances on important local issues, which it has gathered from conducting interviews around the country.

The group believes there is a real lack of clear and accessible information available to voters and that the innovative candidate scorecards they have created will help solve this problem.

To collect the necessary information, Generation Zero has interviewed local council candidates to see where they stand on key issues in each region, from housing and urban design to transport and climate change.

Generation Zero spokesperson Madeleine Foreman says: “We’ve surveyed candidates on key issues in different regions and asked them to sign a pledge to prioritise policies that reduce carbon pollution.”

The interviews have been in person in main centres, and by electronic survey in other parts of the country.

The group believes local elections are important and that the scorecards will play a key role in informing voters.

Madeleine Foreman; “Local councils are important decision makers in areas such as transport, infrastructure and urban planning which have long-term implications and are crucial to respond to the issues presented by climate change.”

“We’ve created an innovative and simple way for voters to get a lot of the information they need to be adequately informed and to vote this election”, says Ms Foreman.

In Auckland the scorecards were released at a press conference where the group presented its vision for New Zealand’s largest city and candidates who scored highly were interviewed.

Scorecards for candidates in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin are published on Generation Zero’s local body elections website and will be distributed around electorates in the coming weeks.

About Generation Zero:
An organisation of young New Zealanders promoting solutions to climate change through smart transport, liveable cities and independence from fossil fuels.
http://generationzero.org.nz
www.facebook.com/GenerationZero
https://twitter.com/GenerationZero

ENDS

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