Greens after numbers in Sydney

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Greens have started campaigning in Australia, hoping again to wangle a parliamentary seat out of overseas voters.

They did it in 1999 when, after winning Coromandel on special votes, they also received enough overseas votes to gain a seventh seat in Parliament.

And in 2002, special overseas ballots took them from some 6.4 per cent of the total vote to 7 per cent, giving them a ninth seat in Parliament.

"We effectively took it [a seat] off United with overseas votes," co-leader Rod Donald said in Sydney yesterday.

Their overseas success - they won 14 per cent of the expatriate vote in 2002 - has encouraged them to woo voters here with more enthusiasm this time.

Labour and the Maori Party have also been active in Australia in recent months, encouraging New Zealanders to enrol for the September 17 election. More than 21,600 New Zealanders in Australia are enrolled to vote so far.

The electoral system means an analysis of the locality of overseas votes is not possible, but Mr Donald is sure his party has a strong following from young, university graduates who are earning well in Australian cities.

The Greens have a Sydney-based candidate in James Diack - and two candidates in London - to assist in their electioneering.

Mr Donald spoke at meetings in Melbourne and Sydney.

- NZPA