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Media unfair to minor parties in Mt Albert by-election

By Turei Mackey
While the mainstream parties fight for attention in the Mt Albert by-election on June 13, the minnows are being left in the cold by the media.

Kiwi Party candidate Simonne Dyer, who has worked in relief and development in Africa and the Caribbean, says the media has been unfair to the smaller runners in the race.

“The mainstream media is not interested in the minor parties outside Parliament,” says Mrs Dyer, running to promote more family friendly policies.

While she admits any chance of her winning the by-election would be “a miracle” and the bigger parties will always get the most media attention, she is disappointed there has been no recognition of the minor party candidates so far.

Spokesperson for the Human Rights Party Anthony Ravlich says their party’s 2008 general election candidate in Mt Albert, Anthony Joseph van Den Heuvel, will be standing again for the seat.

The party is running to raise awareness about human rights issues but Mr Ravlich is not happy with the lack of coverage by the media.

“I would love to talk to them but they don’t want to know us,” says Mr Ravlich.

He says the established media has completely locked them out as they don’t want any challenges to the status quo.

“I don’t see why they should block alternative views out.”

However, one minor party candidate getting noticed is the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate, Dakta Green.

Arrested five times in the past three weeks on charges involving cannabis, Mr Green is intending to win the seat of Mt Albert and believes the media attention he has received will help his cause.

He sees Labour Party candidate David Shearer as his only real opponent as the National, Greens and Act candidates are already MPs.

It is one thing where candidate Mrs Dyer would probably agree with Mr Green.
She believes that if any of the candidates from the current Parliamentary parties win the by-election; it won’t really change anything.

ENDS

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