Disappointed Tanczos drops down Greens' list

Nandor Tanczos

The Green Party list has seen the demotion of one of Parliament's most colourful MPs, Nandor Tanczos, to potential danger territory which could see him failing to make it back into Parliament.

Mr Tanczos, who fronts the Greens' controversial cannabis reform policy, has fallen from fourth to seventh on the party list released this morning.

The danger comes if the Greens' party vote is just over the all-important 5 per cent threshold, entitling the party to only six MPs.

Vaulting ahead of the rastafarian MP on the list are Metiria Turei, Keith Locke and Sue Kedgley.

Mr Tanczos admitted being "a little disappointed" with his ranking.

He attributed his fall to lower visibility this parliamentary term as he concentrated on his family since the birth of his daughter two years ago.

He disagreed that his placing was because of his drive for cannabis law reform, although some in the Greens are known to be uncomfortable with the policy.

He said the drug policy had been clarified, and he thought most Green members understood cannabis prohibition was not working.

Ms Turei, who rises from eighth to sixth, is considered a bright hope for the Greens and possible leadership material. She showed particular mettle during the foreshore and seabed debate.

The Dunedin-based MP said she was grateful the party had supported her and thought she had done a good enough job to rise up the list.

There are no new faces in the top slots, with eight of the nine existing MPs filling the first eight positions. Only Ian Ewen-Street is not standing again.

In ninth and tenth place are Catherine Delahunty and Russel Norman, respectively.

Ms Delahunty was party co-convener from 2002 to 2004. In 2002 she was placed 10th on the list.

Dr Norman was last year appointed the Greens national campaign manager and was a parliamentary researcher for the party. He has ascended from number 17 in 2002.

Greens co-leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald are ranked first and second, respectively.

On Mr Tanczos' ranking, Mr Donald said that was the will of the membership.

"Clearly the members have been very impressed with the performance of both Keith and Metiria over the last three years, and Nandor's dropped down as a result of that."

The Greens returned nine MPs in 2002 with 7 per cent of the party vote but in recent polls have been hovering around, and sometimes below, the 5 per cent threshold.

There is a school of thought in the party that the order of the first seven candidates does not matter because they will either all be in Parliament, or all be out, in the absence of a winnable electorate seat as a backstop.