Environmental scientist, Dr Michael Morris, is standing openly as a vegan for the Papaioea mayoral election on a platform of justice for animals, justice for the environment, and justice for marginalised humans. Research has shown that these three are related. Societies with greater social equality are better at looking after their animals, their people and their environment.

Michael works as a kaitātari Taiao (Environmental Policy Planner) for a statutory iwi entity. His previous experience has been in environmental policy, environmental and public health research, and university teaching. Michael is a qualified Resource Management Act commissioner.

Michael has conducted research into the link between animal rights and social equality. He has also been active in the field of ‘compassionate conservation’, a philosophy that aims to be respectful to both the ecology and to invasive animals.

Michael has taught science and sociology at both Massey and UCOL. He recently returned to Palmerston North with his family, and has been impressed with the cultural diversity of Papaioea and its excellent library that includes books in so many community languages. Free buses for students and staff of tertiary institutes is another positive aspect of the city.

In his candidacy, Michael strives to be a voice for the voiceless. Among his policies are making the animal holding centre no-kill, humane predator control, mandatory desexing, supporting the C40 cities and plant-based treaty initiatives and promoting a low emissions plant-based economy, for both animal rights and environmental reasons.

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