Greens stand 50 electorate candidates for party vote

The Green Party today confirmed 50 electorate candidates - including a full swag in the 16 South Island seats - for the 1999 general election.

Green Party Co-Leader Rod Donald said the 50 candidates would be chasing the party vote in their electorates to help ensure the Green Party passed the five per cent threshold which would guarantee Green MPs in the next parliament.

"We have always had a two-pronged strategy in this election: for Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons to win the Coromandel seat and for the party to pass the five per cent threshold," Mr Donald said.

Ms Fitzsimons said the Green Party candidates were some of the most committed, dedicated and able people standing for parliament.

"They have vast amounts of experience in Green issues and are great drawcards for the Green vote. It's good to have so many people who are prepared to work so hard for the party vote, rather than put their own egos first."

Electorate Candidates recently confirmed:

Rex Verity (Rakaia): At the last election Rex was one of the highest-polling Green candidates when he stood for the Alliance in Aoraki.

Tim Gow (Clutha-Southland): Tim is a successful organic stud sheep and cattle farmer and a pioneer in the marketing of organic meat and wool.

Terry Creighton (Tukituki): Terry works as a loans manager for ethical lending and investment company Prometheus Ethical Finance.

Sandra Lawrence (Taranaki-King Country): Sandra has been campaigning on Green issues since the 1980s and is a mother of four.

On the party list, the Greens have a total of 54 candidates, including nature photographer and publisher Craig Potton, safe food campaigner and Green Wellington City Councillor Sue Kedgley, rural and women's affairs campaigner Danna Glendining, and England-based candidate Celia Wade Brown.

Jeanette Fitzsimons: 025 586 068, 07 868 6641 Rod Donald: 025 507 183

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