Greens pursue more Aucklanders

Co-leader Metiria Turei lashed National's social policies, despite talk of possible coalition. Photo / Greg Bowker

The Green Party faces "a serious challenge" to lift its support in Auckland, especially in South Auckland where it is particularly weak, its leaders have acknowledged.

The Greens' three-day annual meeting winds up today at Te Mahurehure Marae in Pt Chevalier and "frustration" at a lack of Auckland-based MPs and candidates on the party list was tipped by North Shore electorate candidate Pieter Watson as a likely issue for discussion.

The Greens have just one Auckland-based MP in David Clendon. The recently confirmed party list means he remains the only Auckland candidate in the top 10.

Yesterday, co-leader Metiria Turei acknowledged the situation as "a serious challenge".

Her co-leader, Russel Norman, said: "It's fair to say we need more Auckland Green MPs."

The Greens polled strongly in one or two Auckland seats last election, securing 15.4 per cent of the party vote in Auckland Central, but doing woefully in South Auckland seats.

In Mangere the party got just 2 per cent, in Manukau East 1.8 per cent, compared with its national result of 6.7 per cent.

"That's a weak point for the Greens ... those South Auckland electorates," Dr Norman said. "It's a matter of fact that when you look at the Green vote it is a kind of urban liberal vote and higher education is also associated with the Greens."

However, Ms Turei said the Greens had some "excellent" Auckland-based candidates between places 10 and 15 on the party list.

The party is aiming for a double-figure share of the party vote this year, which would put more Auckland-based Green MPs in Parliament.

"If we get 10 per cent of the vote, we'll certainly get them," said Dr Norman.

Those candidates are former Auckland City councillor Denise Roche, who will again contest Auckland Central, at number 11 and at number 13, parliamentary staffer Julie Anne Genter, who has pledged to move back to her former home in Mt Albert if she becomes an MP.

At the weekend the Greens agreed that while they preferred Labour, they would entertain the "highly unlikely" possibility of forming a coalition with National.

But the two leaders' speeches, in which they lashed National's economic, environmental and social policies, underscored how remote that prospect is.

Ms Turei pointed to Prime Minister John Key's intention to campaign on what she said were "vicious recommendations of the Welfare Working Group" such as benefit cuts and linking benefit receipt to contraception.

"National has made vulnerable families into enemies ... The Green Party will not be part of this abuse of our families and children."