Gareth Hughes

Candidate for Ohariu electorate

Born 1981, Gisborne

Lives in Wellington

List position 11

I am a father, an activist and a passionate Green Party member. To stay fresh and grow we need to attract new young voters and we need credible young candidates high on our list. I am a serious candidate and have the skills, experience and relationships needed to be an effective MP and a complementary caucus member. Across Aotearoa I have worked with our grassroots activists, MPs and parliamentary team and I know I have what it takes. I am inspired by the positive change we have achieved so far and I have the energy, desire and vision to work towards real sustainability and fairness for the future.

Gareth Hughes is standing for the Green Party in the Ohariu electorate at list position 11. This is the first time he has stood for the Green Party.

Background

Gareth grew up in Gisborne, where he was interested in cars and rugby before moving to Wellington, to study religious studies and history. At Victoria University, Gareth became a vegetarian and developed a passion for environmental campaigning. He worked for Greenpeace New Zealand and Australia from 2000-2005. During that time, he was a volunteer activist on the Climbing action team member and a Boat action team member. Gareth was a crew member of the Rainbow Warrior on the 2004 Bottom Trawling expedition. He worked for Greenpeace in various roles for 5 years. He currently works as the Green Party climate campaigner.

Achievements

Gareth is married to wife Meghan and they have a seven month old son - Arlo. Gareth has been involved in successful campaigns to stop the use of genetically engineered feed by chicken companies in New Zealand, a highlight of which was getting arrested as Ronald McDonald. He has sailed on the Rainbow Warrior and was part of the campaign to ban bottom trawling in international waters. Gareth takes an active role in the climate change debate in New Zealand, one highlight was touring the country with Jeanette and Russel on the Climate Defence Tour.

Community involvements

Gareth has been an official delegate for Save Happy Valley (2006-2007). He was a Wellington member organising media events and fundraising events. Gareth was the NZ Delegate and blogmanager at Nairobi conference of the Global Young Greens (2006-2007), From 2006 to 2007 he part of the Students of Aotearoa network for the Environment and from 2002 to 2004 was an active member of Eco Action.

Additional

At 26 years of age, Gareth is the youngest Green Party candidate. Gareth used to be a boy racer, worked in a fish and chip store, a supermarket, he’s been a radio DJ, a telemarketer, a pamphlet deliverer, a hospital orderly, a barman, and a fundraiser. Since then, Gareth has been arrested dressed as Ronald McDonald, learnt to climb buildings and unfurled a protest banner in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Interests and hobbies

Gareth enjoys being active on political and environmental issues. He loves reading and collecting books.

Contacts

Work (04) 801 52 97, Home (04) 384 0124, Cell 027 422 9290
Hughes.gareth@gmail.com
Gareth has a website www.votegareth.org.nz and a Facebook politicians page.