With your party vote this election you can make a difference, you can make sure Greens are a part of the mix in Parliament. You can make your vote last for generations.

In 1998 I read David Suzuki’s book The Sacred Balance. Suzuki, a Canadian geneticist and environmentalist, combines the stories from indigenous peoples with western science to remind us how sacred life is and how human existence, our standard of living, is interconnected and interdependent on the finite resources of this planet – the water, the air, our food, and the other species we share this planet with. I found his thesis and call to action so compelling that I knew I had to do something, so I did something I’d never done before, I joined a political party, I joined the Greens.

I’m standing as the Wairarapa Green candidate in the 2008 General Election because I believe our future in New Zealand and the future of human beings across the planet depends on Greens being a part of the political mix. The Green Party is the only party that recognises the resources of the planet are finite, that endless growth is not possible, and that our hope lies in learning how to share, reduce waste and to get off the endless treadmill of working to be able to buy more things. The Green Party is the only party that brings together environmental wisdom and social justice to show a new way forward.

Help make the difference - Party Vote Green in 2008.

Michael Woodcock - Wairarapa Electorate, Green Party Candidate

This statement is in accordance with the Electoral Finance Act. Jon Field is the appointed Green Party Financial Agent for Electoral Finance Act purposes.

Follow these links to see the Green’s position on the Electoral Finance Act.

• Green MP Metiria Turei Media Release November 19 2007
• Russel Norman (Green Party Co-Leader) and Metiria Turei Media Statement November 19 2007
• Metiria Turei Speech to Parliament at the Final Reading of the Electoral Finance Bill (You Tube) December 19 2007
  
• List of the improvements to the Electoral Finance Bill achieved, through negotiation, by the Greens

Energetic Wairarapa Green Party members are putting together two raffles to help with fund raising for the Wairarapa Green’s campaign for the 2008 General Election. One raffle is for a basket of New Zealand-made groceries, and the other is for gardening items with an emphasis on organics.
You may be able to help… The list of items is under the (more…) tab. Drop-off points are also listed. (more…)

Michael is the Green Party Candidate for Wairarapa in 2008. Here is the speech he gave in support of his selection in mid December 2007…
Think Global. Act Local. Always a challenge both politically and personally.
The head of the UN environment program said when the fourth IPCC Climate Change report was released in November, “I think people should be frightened but not in the sense of being overpowered. The power of the report is saying two things in simple terms. We are in trouble and need to act and secondly, we have both the means and the possibility to act to avoid the worst. But it means we act now and we need to act collectively.”

You would think with such overwhelming evidence and with such a compelling call to action, that it should be easy for us to sell Green Politics in 2008.
It will not be. The challenge for us in the Wairarapa is going to be to ensure we link the global with the local by connecting our policies with and communicating them too the people of this electorate.

(more…)

“The Green Party has kicked off election year with a hard hitting speech by Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons in the annual State of the Planet address.

Speaking on Waiheke Island at the party’s annual Picnic for the Planet, Ms Fitzsimons issued a challenge to the leaders of the major parties and the media.

“I challenge Helen Clark and John Key to an election in which political parties compete on something more substantial than an appeal to fear and greed.  I challenge them to compete over who can be the most trusted to take urgent action to safeguard the social and environmental future for each and every New Zealander.  I challenge the media to make this election about the substance of policy and not just about the horse trading and gaming of politics….”

Read the full speech at this link.

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has selected 49-year old Michael David Woodcock of Carterton as its candidate to represent Wairarapa in the general election this year. Mr. Woodcock is marketing and fundraising manager for the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations.
He joined the Green Party in 1998 and re-established the Wairarapa branch after it had been in recess, while part of the Alliance, becoming its founding convenor. In last year’s local body elections he stood on a Green Party ticket for the Carterton rural ward.
Mr. Woodcock and his partner, Gaye Sutton, live on a 27 acre property in Chester Road, organically farming cattle and olives. Living on a rural property, he says, “I know what it means when it doesn’t rain or when there’s no autumn grass and you’ve got livestock to worry about”.
As a regular train commuter to Wellington, which he describes as Wairarapa’s biggest employer, he also has strong views on the realities of living and finding good employment in the region. “Forget about building a road tunnel through the hill; this region’s future will depend on continuing to improve the rail network and increasing the services, especially at weekends.”
Mr. Woodcock says he is honoured to have been selected to represent the Greens in the coming election. “More then ever before, New Zealand needs a strong Green presence in Parliament,” he adds. “This election is not about who’s going to give tax cuts, it’s about ensuring a sustainable world for future generations. We can either be remembered as the greedy generation, or the generation that tried to make a difference, and I know which I’d prefer”.

It was a lot of fun being part of the birthday celebrations of our Wairarapa Farmers Market during Saturday morning 01/12. Lots of people, gigantic birthday cake and fantastic amplified music. With coffee in one hand and a sweet delight from Boly Bollinger in the other, what more could I want on this great Saturday.

Many of the stall-holders got into the spirit of things and dressed up for the occasion. The photos on the left are clickable to make them larger. Remember, the Farmers Market has its own Wairarapa Wiki page HERE.

On December 1st the Wairarapa Farmers Market will be engulfed in its first birthday bash! Please come along enjoy the fun, and show your support for our market. There will be live music, birthday cake, hamper draw and many other things.