The Green Party sends its love to the family, friends and colleagues of Helen Kelly today.
“On behalf on the Green Party, I want to extend my deepest condolences to Helen’s husband Steve, her son Dylan, and the many, many people who loved her,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.
“Helen was an exceptional New Zealander – a force to be reckoned with who always stood up for the people who have the least.
“She was the kind of person that you’d want in your corner, no matter the fight.
“Whether it was her never-ending crusade for workers’ rights, for pay equity, for the families of forestry and farm workers and the Pike River miners, or, latterly, for access to medicinal cannabis for people in pain, she was unafraid of speaking truth to power.
“Even at the end of her life, she was working to make New Zealand better. She was, and will always be, an inspiration.
“This is a very sad day – we have lost a one-of-a-kind New Zealander,” said Mrs Turei.