Election08 Green Party Candidates

"One way to create change is to protest about the system from the outside. Another is to build people's organisations within the shell of a malfunctioning system. The third way is to go inside and change the system from within." An activist for social justice, peace and women's issues since 1967 and a Green MP since 1999, Sue has worked for change in one or other of these ways since her early teens.

According to Sue "the best preparation for being an MP is experience in campaigning." She is impeccably prepared; a veteran campaigner in the fields of women's rights and a former Wellington City Councillor. Sue is also the face of safe food campaigning in New Zealand politics, a profile built on ten years of meticulous research - including visiting the factories, battery hen farms and slaughterhouses where food starts its long journey to our plates.

Keith was born into a politically active family and has been an activist and campaigner since the first anti-nuclear marches and anti-apartheid protests in 1960s New Zealand. Keith has brought his long term specialist knowledge of human rights, both domestic and international, to his work as a Green MP. He has been described as 'the bravest man in Parliament' and 'respected across party lines for his consistency and willingness to speak against the tide of popular opinion.

Kevin is currently the Chief Executive of the West Coast District Health Board, and was previously Executive Director, NZ AIDS Foundation. His achievements include being in the team that stopped the 1985 All Black tour to South Africa and being one of the leaders of the campaign for the 1993 Human Rights Act. Kevin brings significant practical skill, experience and resourcefulness combined with a personal passion. He is powerfully motivated through his sense of urgency over the survival of our planet.

Catherine describes herself as an "activist, feminist, mother, gardener, writer, teacher, mediator, advocate - and stand-up comic." A political activist since her teens, she has worked for change in the areas of social justice, Te Tiriti and environmental issues. She has a history of challenging corporate polluters, and a deep interest in developing decision-making processes which involve everyone.

Ken teaches international politics and international law at the School of Law, Canterbury and Victoria University, and has previously worked for NGOs, the UN and as a diplomat. He was involved in negotiating the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, defending the policy as a NZ diplomat before the UN in Geneva and New York and was also Director of a UN programme in the Middle East. Having returned to New Zealand he now aspires to contribute his experience and perspectives to helping the country tackle the global problems we face.

Change is the only constant, and David, a former lecturer in resource management and currently a small business advisor, has had sound experience in teaching people to lead and manage change. Now he would like to apply his energies and skills to politics, working for a more just, greener world. David is of Pakeha and Ngapuhi me Te Roroa descent. "I feel it is both a privilege and a responsibility to make some positive contribution to the wellbeing of Aotearoa."

Gareth is a vegetarian and currently works for the Green Party on climate change issues. Before that he worked for Greenpeace New Zealand and Australia from 2000-2005 and has been involved in activism for many years, including being arrested dressed as Ronald McDonald, climb buildings and unfurling a protest banner in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. At 26 years of age, Gareth is the youngest of the Green Party candidates in the top twelve, and is married with one son. His succinct message to other Green activists wanting to make a difference is to: "connect, construct and contribute".

Steffan has been at the forefront of the New Zealand organics movement for nearly twenty years. His successful Bio-Gro horticulture business won both the Horticulture and Supreme awards in the Marlborough Rural Environmental awards in 2003. "When I look out at the land and sea, I know it could be so much better; we're pushing our resources to the limit right now. I'm aiming for genuinely sustainable organics in our food, fibre, forestry and fishing industries - which also makes good business sense."