KEY POINTS:
After the unexpected passing of former co-leader Rod Donald, the Green Party has refocused its vision. The Herald rates the Greens' past and future.
Performance rating this term: 6/10
Recovered and refocused after the death of Rod Donald soon after the 2005 election. Has spent the past three years forging itself as a party that can stand out of the shadow of Labour. Has had some policy gains, largely in one-off projects. However, has not been able to make any gains in the polls, despite growing public concern on environmental issues and Labour's own low polling.
Policies to watch for:
Party is concentrating on three policy areas - greenhouse gases, dependency on oil, and food safety. Expect to hear a call for more public transport, more renewable and alternative energy, and for any revenue from the emissions trading scheme to be spent on technology to reduce emissions.
On food, the Greens want moves to promote locally grown organic food, better labelling of ingredients and stricter rules covering the use of pesticides, growth hormones and additives.
Assets and liabilities:
Jeanette Fitzsimons seems to be taking a lower-profile role this election, leaving Russel Norman out front on most issues. Although Norman is intelligent, thorough in his homework and effective in asking uncomfortable questions of the Government's environmental record, he remains little known to many New Zealanders.
Sue Bradford is one of the party's better-known faces, as a staunch advocate for social policies, and should be used more. All MPs are strong voices for their causes, the party has a diverse party list and does its research thoroughly for its policies. But it is still viewed as airy-fairy by some voters and as too "nanny state" by others, after the anti-smacking law and the push for the ban on the sale of incandescent light bulbs.
Achievements and failures:
A stellar run getting private members' bills passed into law - including allowing mothers to keep babies in prison for longer, and getting rid of the "youth wage". Sue Kedgley's flexible working hours bill and Nandor Tanczos' waste minimisation bill also became law. Played significant role getting the Government to agree to electrify Auckland's rail network. Got funding for projects including promoting New Zealand-made goods, public transport investment, and making homes more energy-efficient, including retro-fitting insulation into all state houses.
But from outside government its successes have largely been restricted to one-off projects. Was forced to cave in after threatening to pull its support for the Emissions Trading Scheme despite getting no concessions on its main concerns, and settled for a $1 billion fund to make homes more energy-efficient.
What it needs to do:
The party has "vision" but struggles to articulate it in a simple way that captures the minds of voters. Its decision to concentrate on three policy areas could reduce its tendency to get sidetracked on to pet causes. Needs to allay fears about the effect of costly environmental policies on household pockets, and about what it intends to demand of a government if it is in coalition.
It blamed its low 2005 result partly on a "squeeze" because of the close race between National and Labour, and on the Exclusive Brethrens' anti-Green leaflet campaign.
On paper, it should do better this time. In the past, it has benefited when Labour has been polling badly. Needs to protect its turf now that many of its causes have become more mainstream.
Its billboards are by far the most effective on the hustings - emotive, attention-grabbing and a simple, strong expression of Green goals.
