Green vote holds key to second MP

John Hart

If the votes work in the Green Party's favour on election night, Wairarapa could have a second MP representative.

John Hart, Green candidate for the Wairarapa electorate, has been ranked 18th on the initial Green Party List, released at the party's recent campaign conference.

With the Greens currently holding 14 per cent of the vote in the latest opinion polls, Mr Hart stands a good chance of landing a seat in Parliament under the MMP system. With it, he will land a spot as List MP for Wairarapa.

"It's a good place to be in. In the last polls, I was just one spot away from Parliament," said Mr Hart, who currently lives in Rangitumau.

"If the Greens get just a little over 14 per cent, then we will get 18 MPs in there.

"It will be great for Wairarapa to have a second MP - and a Green MP as a bonus."

Previous List MPs based in Wairarapa were Edwin Perry, of New Zealand First, from 2002 to 2005, and Georgina Beyer, Labour, from 2005 to 2007.

Mr Hart, a sheep and beef farmer and leader of the Gigatown Masterton project, said he would be "honoured" to serve as a second MP for the region.

As a List MP, most likely to be based in Auckland or Wellington, he would have a more nationally focussed profile - but also plans to take on a rural advocacy role for the electorate. "Actually having lived here will make me a good advocate for Wairarapa," he said. "I certainly do not plan to stop caring about the district just because I'll be based in the big city as an MP.

"I think it's very important to have that strong rural voice in the Green Party."

Mr Hart said the local issues he was most passionate about were fresh water quality, access to improved technology for rural communities and reducing inequality.

"In Wairarapa especially, we need an economy that lifts everyone up, and is inclusive." The Green Party's 4000 members will be voting on its party list, with a final result to come in May.