Marsden & Scots College Political Panel - Speech to 7th formers

The other day a young waiter came up to me in a Courtenay Place café and he said I just wanted to say that I’ve always voted Green because I vote for the next 50 years, not just the next 2 or 3.

And that’s why you should vote green.

Because we are the only party that takes a long term view; which has policies based on principles, not just populism, and which and offers practical long term solutions to the difficult problems that confront us.

The sad reality is that my generation – and previous generations -- have polluted our rivers, plundered our oceans, poisoned our atmosphere and squandered natural resources that took millions of years to develop. As a result you inherit a world which is radically different to the one I grew up in –a world where the glaciers are melting, bees are disappearing, where most of our rivers are unsafe to swim in, and where there are signs, everywhere of ecological stress or collapse.

The Green Party is the only party confronting these problems head on; that tells the truth that the earth is suffering and that we have reached the end of cheap oil.  We are the only party that is serious about climate change, cleaning up our rivers, reducing our carbon footprint, investing in clean, renewable energy and public transport.

The Green Party is not compromised by corporate agendas, either, or bogged down in petty political point scoring. We stand for fairness and justice as well as ecological wisdom and we have an impressive record of achievements in Parliament – energy efficiency legislation, legislation that got rid of Youth rates, legislation which allows employees to work flexible working hours; a $12m Buy Kiwi-made campaign; a Nutrition Fund for schools.

Our achievements in promoting safe food, animal welfare, sustainable public transport, energy efficiency and human rights have made a real difference.

  So vote to protect your future, and the future of this beautiful, threatened planet. Party Vote Green.