AMA: Gareth Hughes
"What are the barriers to aligning with National? A lot of well-educated, up-and-coming voters in the 20-40 age group have very Green tendencies, but don't like Labour."
Featured commentLove them or loathe them (and I think I can guess which side of that equation most NBR readers fall), the Greens have an even chance of being part of the next government.
While way out in front overall, National is level-pegging with combined Labour+Greens support (and no other party is guaranteed a seat).
That matters, because as Otago University political science lecturer Bryce Edwards tells NBR ONLINE, "MMP is not as simple as the party with the largest Party Vote having the first chance to form a government - although I'm sure that this is the public perception. There are no such firm rules established, apart from the Governor General needing to be satisfied that one particular party can lead a government that has the support of the majority of Parliament."
As conservative political commentator and NBR columnist Matthew Hooton frequently points out, a Labour-Green lead coalition (perhaps backed by NZ First) could well be sitting on the Treasury benches after the 2014 election (with, he speculates, Russel Norman as finance minister and policies that will make a dramatic impact on your rental properties.).
So it's time to get to know the Greens, via high-profile MP Gareth Hughes.
The Green MP posted replies to NBR reader questions (see Comments below) on between 11am and 12pm on Friday January 25. Hughes didn't have time to get through all the questions in the hour, but is angling to answer more later today.
BACKGROUND READING:
Greens introduce rent-to-buy home ownership scheme
Why the Green Party may alienate current home owners (paid)
Greens: print money to drive down dollar
Russel Norman could be finance minister
Greens eagerly eye finance porfolio, warm to business (Hooton)
Banks lays into Green's 'xenophobic' bill to restrict land sales to foreigners
Adams hits back at Greens, Huawei responds to US Congressional report
Dump those rental properties now (Hooton)
Wheeler drawn into Greens politicking, says bank returns still below GFC levels
Come to NZ – the nice stupid people will finance your home (Cactus)
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Comments and questions117
Hi Gareth, I imagine your party uses a lot of copy paper. Do you use recycled, FSC or plain paper? Have you seen this paper made from sugar cane fibre?
http://www.LookAt.co.nz/product/?code=67-999602 and it's cheaper than other A4 copy papers in NZ? LookAt are also a NZ-owned company is your current supplier of office supplies 100% NZ owned?
I look forward to hearing what paper you use and if the Green Party practices what it preaches.
I wonder if he even knows, although as you say photocopy paper is an easy Green win, and do they support NZ-owned companies? So where do the Greens buy their stationery?
Gareth, along that topic, do you and the party use original, compatbible or recycled ink and toners? Again, where do you buy these from? Which do you also think of the three is the best environmentally?
Perhaps the Greens work at parliament and such things are set by Parliamentary Services?
Yeah Parliament seems to run on paper. Digital devices can help reduce paper uages, and it’s great to see increasing digital usage in forums such as select committees.
The paper we use at the Greens is recycled paper, and I’m proud to say even our corflute election hoardings were recycled!
Do you support Gareth Morgan's Cat Holocaust?
Thanks for the question Amanda. While concerned about the impact of cats along with dogs, possums and stoats on our amazing indigenous flaura and fauna we don't think this is the answer. What we need is greater funding of DOC, pest eradication, sanctuaries and should consider a cat registration scheme.
I have a cat, Cobalt, and like many others love my cat.
Better prep up on why your party supports ICLEI and Agenda 21 Gareth...and have good responses to why your lot are associated with some pretty fightening haters of freedom.
Sorry Rex, that question is best addressed to my colleague, Dr Kennedy Graham.
Yes I’d love to reduce NZs oil dependence. At the moment we are importing about $8 billion, It’s one of most serious strategic economic challenges facing our country.
The answer is an oil reduction strategy, not an oil dependence strategy which the Govt is locking us into with their expensive Roads of national (Party) Significance and their ‘drill it, mine, frack it’ approach to economic development.
Fracking still raises numerous concerns, not least climate change. The recent Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report raises many red flags and I think it would be prudent to put a halt to it until her final report comes into effect, regulatory changes are made and it can be demonstrated safe.
Rather I’d like to see NZ focus on clean energy solutions, which could be a fantastic business opportunity for us.
Have you done any calculations on how much aluminium, copper and silicon solar and wind energy "solutions" will consume?
The high rate of maintenance and low up-time for both these technologies makes for a poor for return on the initial and on-going resource investment, which is what the market tells us through pricing them appropriately anyway of course. Are you in favour of consuming more copper, aluminium (high-energy smelting) and silicon (high refining costs) to consume less fossil fuels?
Cheers for the Q. No I haven't done any calculations on it but I am following the international discussion on rare earth minerals which in many cases are crucial components on wind turbines or advanced batteries.
Obviously our modern economy and technology depends on minerals and we take a balanced view of the impacts. For example we aren't against all mining, and as Russel Norman said it may have it's place, but what we are talking about digging up climate-change-causing coal, risky oil in the ocean depths and sucking up the sea floor for phosphate in our richest fishery in NZ isn't in our economic or environmental interest.
When it comes to power, it's not the 'sexiest' option but energy efficiency and reducing demand often are the most effective ways to both save resources and bottom lines and shouldn't be ignored.
Where do you and the Greens stand on #pussyriot. Should cats be exterminated, phased out or kept to continue killing NZ native birds?
I actually hand delivered a letter to the Russian Embassy in Wellington protesting the outrageous criminal charges laid by Putin on Pussy Riot. They are brave women.
On the cats, I have one named Cobalt and I don’t support killing them.
I do think however more resources need to go into pest control to address serious problems with rats and possums and other pests and there may be merit in some of the ideas like cat registration and that could be worth investigating.
Cobalt is not a particularly Green name for a cat.
LOL love it
How about deemed unrealised capital gains tax on property owned by non-NZ tax paying people/companies, etc - ie,
10% of purchase price taxed at highest marginal rate per year.
Sorry, green hedge, I can't answer this one. I'm sure Dr Russel Norman would be keen to give you a response. Thanks for asking.
Greens housing policy was announced Thursday.
Q - why can't all parents with dependents (either means tested or not) get access to the lower cost of funds for the purposes of a mortgage? Why limit to the lucky few who secure one of the cheap state-built houses?
What is the Greens' view/policy on Pacific Fibre (or similar). Would you provide funding if in govt?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8089859/Govt-should-fund-internet-cable-Greens
:) I'm not Gareth but since the answer is already out there...
Do you accept that you're a member of the 1% - in terms of carbon footprint?
Your parliamentary Speaker's tour of Europe must have chewed up quite air miles.
How do you reconcile that with your Green principles?
Yes I fly a bit but only for work. Like the Green caucus I voluntarily offset my emissions and try to avoid air travel where possible.
I've hosted a few online public meetings instead of flying somewhere and this AMA live chat is a good example how digital tools can help us reduce emissions. Thanks for the Q
Scenario: you survive a plane crash, and swim to a small island where there are only baby seals. A week passes, with no rescue in sight. Do you club one of the seals to death and eat it?
Thanks for this....hmmmm.
I'm a vegetarian, so I would be fine living off greens!
cannibalism :)
There were only baby seals on the island. So much for your comprehension skills!
John Key returned Nick Smith to cabinet as conservation minister (if keeping him clear of the more meaningful evironment and climate change portfolios).
Do you rate Nick Smith as a greenie? Is the whole "blue-green" thing a meaningful movement from your standpoint, or a contradiction in terms?
Good question Mrs Smith. No I don't rate his 'greenness' if that's the question, though he is the greenest of the lot.
The Government of which he is a senior part has gone on a decidedly ant-environmental path particularly this term which is economic madness and puts our prosperity at risk.
Tackling climate change for example is about jobs and development. New industries, new exports, Kiwis busily putting up solar panels, providing smart farming advice and better public transport.
This Govt however has walked out of Kyoto 2, immasculated the ETS, borrowed billions for uneconomic roads, worsening our oil dependence and is acting as an accessory to the extinction of the Maui's dolphin. Bad for our environment and sense of love for our beatufiul country but also bad business sense as every nail in the 100% Pure NZ coffin hurts exports.
I don't rate the Blue Greens they seem to have been totally unsuccessful in advancing significant environmental protection and served to just 'greenwash' National.
On a final note about Smith I do think he's intelligent and a hard worker. A few years back when I worked at Greenpeace I followed him around NZ on a climate target consultation series of public meetings he organised and was amazed firstly that he fronted, then that he argued his case relentlessly in the face of thousands if Kiwis clearly arguing for greater climate action. I hope he can do a better job in conservation than Wilkinson who was missing in action for 4 years.
What product do you put in your hair, and is it in any way sustainable?
I dont use much. I probably should though!
Do you trust Winston Peters? It's impossible to visualise the two of you side-by-side in a Red-Green-Black cabinet
We've worked well with NZ First this term on issues like the Manufacturing inquiry and I've worked closely with some of their MPs who I have found good to work with.
Many countries have heavy restrictions on foreigners buying land. Why not New Zealand, too?
Can foreigners buy land in China? Nope. Yet China is often lauded for their "long view" and business savvy, especially compared to New Zealand's short-term "sell everything" way of acting.
We should at least make an effort to be as savvy as other countries. There's no reason land ownership shouldn't be connected to requirements around residency and citizenship. At the very least, this will protect those who make the greatest life investment in the country from being driven out of the market by pure speculation from overseas money. For many of my foreign friends Herne Bay is cheap as chips - there is no way NZ salaries can compete with foreign speculators.
Of course, plenty who are already in the market will enjoy the way foreign money drives up NZ property prices. But we should also be considerate of the country that we leave to the next generations.
China is a bad example. Chinese citizens can't buy land in China.
Thanks Chris. No I dont think it was over the top. I was simply suggesting we should undertake our own investigation given the large scale of Huawei's involvement and concerns raised overseas.
I think it's prudent.
Would you like to lead the Green Party one day? YES or NO answer please (we'll take it as read you respect the current leadership etc etc)
I'm not thinking about that and I totally support Russel Norman and Metiria Turei. They are doing great jobs.
A response out of Silent T's playbook.
Should marijuana be be legal?
What will the Greens do about the blatant hypocrisy surrounding the marijuana laws when contrasted with our alcohol and tobacco laws?
What are your thoughts on medical marijuana?
Just in case this one doesn't get answered by Gareth, you can find out all of that information on the Green's website. All of their policies are up there in full (unlike Labour)
How old are you?
31. Not the youngest MP anymore - just the youngest looking!
Too young to have any real world experience, as is most of the Greens movement; experience and wisdom gained through old age is a necessity if one is to successfully manage a country's economy.
But young enough to balance some of the more Jurassic perspectives in the older half of parliament.
Lest we forget one MP conflating internet copyright issues with Skynet taking over the world with terminators...
Oh yeah - old age has worked so well for us to date.
Strange Comment R.J Robert - given 10 of the 13 Green MPs are over 40 with 6 being over 50.
If you were in govt/part of an MMP coalition, would you push for the "100% Pure" Tourism NZ campaign to be sidelined?
No, we would try to ensure that we live up to the image of ourselves we sell to the rest of the world.
It’s a huge business opportunity for New Zealand. This allows us to sell products at a premium to overseas markets instead of focusing just on bulk commodities.
Would you strangle the Cullen fund with ethical investing/no mining/resource investment guidelines?
Investing sustainably is the smart, long-term move. We can’t truly be prosperous as a country if our government is investing in unethical, polluting, and unsustainable companies – exploiting people and our environment for a quick buck isn’t going to led to a better future.
More immature naivety!
Imagine you're a Labour MP in the party's Feb leadership vote.
Which MP do you vote for as leader and why? Please don't say you love them all equally or it's up to Labour - this is an immersive scenario. Imagine you are actually a Labour MP, about to put pen to paper. Who's name do you write down?
I could never imagine not being a Green!
That really issue for Labour so I wouldn't speculate.
Hi Gareth
Any news please on Akaroa and the High Court's decision on reversing Kate Wilkinson's ruling. Can the new minister of conservation now approve the Akaroa marine reserve ?
Thank you
Ria
Thanks Ria.
The ball is in the Govt's court and I havent heard any news there.
I hope they do agree to it. I note most of the Akaroa businesses supported the reserve.
Your own home - do you rent or buy?
Why have the policy goal of people owning a home (as opposed to renting and putting their money into other investments)?
Yes I own my home but I acknowledge I am very fortunate to receive an MP's salary! Many of my mates find it very difficult to get a foot in the door and it's a big issue for our country.
Our Home for Life package includes Progressive Ownership to help families into their first homes, in the tradition of past government policies that created our high home ownership rate and egalitarian society. But it also includes better rights for renters – the same as renters enjoy in other countries. For the Greens, it’s not so much about home ownership as an end in itself but ensuring that all New Zealanders have a warm, safe, stable and healthy home. Home ownership is one path to that, better rentals is another.
Cars are good. Cars set the working class free; free to buy a decent house in the suburbs. Your housing/transport policy would see more people living in rabbit hutch appartments along rail lines (and I'm sure no middle class Green MPs are living like that). What sort of vision is that? Certainly, it's anti working class.
Yeah I love cars and even changed a car engine when I was a bit of a boy-racer in Gisborne.
I support a balanced transport system that gives real choices that doesn’t just raid the entirety of the transport pantry for uneconomical motorways.
Would you like to see curbs on immigration or a total immigration ban for the sake of the environment? (Or any other reason?)
How much damage has been done to Dr. Norman's credibility with his idea of printing monopoly money to print our way out of debt?
What will the Greens do when milk becomes $25 / litre etc under those printing money policies?
I support Russel's call and think he has a huge amount of credibility on economic issues. New Zealand can’t go on being the only country that ‘plays by the rules’ and does nothing to bring its currency down. It's like we're pacifists in the midst of a currency war. Nearly all the other floating currencies are being manipulated downward by their governments while ours rises because we do nothing. It’s killing our manufacturing, export, and tourism sectors and domestic producers are being undercut by imports. It’s a big reason why our unemployment rate is going up while its flat or falling in the most of the OECD. We’re building up foreign debt at a rate of $10b a year. It can’t go on.
Gareth, I think you are being either disingenuous or manipulating numbers when comparing our unemployment rates to other OECD countries. They would love to drop their unemployment rates to anything near NZ's if they could. Our unemployment rate is far lower than those of the OECD, barring Aus.
Our currency is going up because we are selling products that overseas countries want - we sell protein and other resources to a hungry world. Additionally, the huge impact of Christchurch rebuild is adding to our GDP and much of that is money coming in from overseas insurers, another demand for NZDs. Then we have the overseas investor demand for shares in our large companies who pay good dividends. Finally, we have a system where it is possible to leverage yourself to the hilt and buy as many properties as you like. This is allowed by the banks because they want the interest payments and they know the likely chance of a default on the loan is very small. People keep paying the interest on the loans long after they have no equity in a down market and will convince themselves that buying the house is saving for their future. That is only true if someone else will buy the house when you need the money.
Printing money is not the answer, neither is a CGT, because any sane investor (and we are sane) will find ways not to sell the property so there is no capital gain, therefore there is no tax. The way to slow property value growth is to require by statute or banking rules that the owner(s) must have a certain level of equity in the property, so they have more skin in the game. Low interest rates will not last and when rates start to go up the interest (really a tax, impost charged by lenders) will further sap the economy of money needed to educate, feed, clothe, transport ourselves.
You are right that we can't afford to keep adding debt. That is solved by people living within their means, and saying that we are entitled to something just because some one else has it (LCD, high wages, flash 5 bd rm homes, homes provide by the state, welfare payments that can be used to buy cigarettes/alcohol/dope) just doesn't cut it any more.
I presume you've heard of George Soros? The reason you've heard of him is because the British (i.e. slightly larger than NZ) tried to manipulate their currency in the way you're suggesting, and... well you can Google it.
What are your thoughts on the religious aspects of parliament? For example, I believe parliament opens with a prayer, would you be willing to remove this and any other religious gestures? Are we not a secular country?
Yes I believe we are a secular nation and we shouldn't open Parliament with a prayer every day. This is something I will raise on the Standing Orders Committee that I sit on as part of our three-year review.
School expenses, such as (increasing) uniform and stationary costs, ensure education is not free in New Zealand. Low-income families struggle immensely at this time of the year due to these costs (which can amount to several hundred dollars for multiple child families). Do the Greens have a plan in place to ensure all children can attend school without the huge financial burden placed on their parents or caregivers?
Do you support Len Brown's rail loop, and if so, can you explain what the value of it is, and how it should be funded assuming funds will not be diverted from RONS projects?
Very much so. In fact I kicked off a campaign on it nearly three years ago.
It’s very important to get Auckland moving, unblock the Britomart bottleneck and increase frequency across the entire network.
Over the last 7 years’ time we have seen road traffic falling, petrol up and public transport growing so it’s the crucial infrastructure component for Auckland.
At the last election I launched policy on funding it here: http://www.greens.org.nz/factsheets/auckland-transport-plan-2011
Gareth, this raises other questions altogether.
1. I am sure you will admit that the tunnel proposal at present has pros and cons. It isn't perfect and there are some valid arguments about its cost/benefit analysis. Would you be willing to switch horses if there was a demonstrably better rail proposal on the table?
2. The price tag for the tunnel project is obviously high, at least from a tax or ratepayer perspective. Would you object to private capital (with appropriate incentives and strictures) if it made the scheme more affordable (and please don't just answer with public = good, private = bad!)?
3. Part of the original question concerned the diversion of funds from RONS. Would you consider that there may be a valid argument that some RONS might actually be able to help reduce fuel demand, while having no actual viable alternatives? The first example that came to mind is the sometimes vilified Puhoi to Wellsford link that would replace a windy and accident prone stetch of highway. Moreover, rather than just being a "holiday highway" (a phrase that I understand seriously offends the population of Northland) the region of Northland is completely economically dependent on this single stretch of road with no viable alternatives. No other region has only one single road access (discounting SH16 that cannot seriously or safely handle freight or buses).
Last question from me; do you think dental care should be free or subsidised in any capacity for adults?
A large percentage of New Zealand adults have not seen a dentist for many years due to the high cost and as a result we have one of the worst dental health records in the developed world.
Do you think schools should be self-sufficient energy-wise and draw all their power from solar or wind on the school grounds or surrounding area?
What is your view on population control? It is the one idea that would sort out most of NZ's problems (housing, etc).
Many small businesses are secured against the owner's house. What impact do you reckon your housing policy will have on that?
Why should we vote Green? Your MPs are most probably have more degrees between them pro rata than any other party. However, you are all over-educated and under-experienced - i.e., been to school, been to uni, work for an NGO or political party and have no practical experience.
Your two co-leaders - why you need two I don't know. Are you 1) a member of the Socialist Workers Party of Aus - i.e., a closet communist? and 2) a memebr of the Mcgillicuddy Serious Party?
Why should we vote for you lot?
That's a joke right?
No it is not a joke. Read their CVs.
One MP been in NZ six years and is a ring-in from the US, Norman's PhD on the workings of the Alliance Party! The rest been nowhere, done nothing, but had their snout in the public trough.
Voting Green is a vote for a richer NZ: both in terms of a clear economic strategy but also quality of life.
We've worked with Govts of both colours to get things done, like insulatiing 180,000 Kiwi homes and are working hard raising the issues of inequality and poverty.
Would like like to see the MMP party vote threshold changed from 5%? To what? Should we keep the Epsom/coat-tail thing that sees an MP bring in others of their party if it gets less than 5% but they win an electorate?
Peter Garrett - enviromentalist or sellout?
Do you think the free market does a bad job of keeping a free society fed?
Why do you seem to think that government interventionist solutions would work any better in markets that supply other essential goods that humans need?
Thanks for the question. It does a relatively good job in developed nations but comes with big costs for the environment and developing nations. We have real food scarcity and then widespread obesity.
I'm a Green because we ar a real new political philosophy that isn't wedded to 'old' debates about left and right, we take what works from both. So we support market mechanisms for reducing 'bads' like greenhouse gases and to aid innovation and then intervention when there is a market failure, like housing, which we released good new policy on yesterday as two examples.
A market failure isn't the same as bad regulation. In the same way, a free market isn't necessarily one devoid of regulation, it's one that works properly. Your socialist party will only make people poorer i.e. less happy.
Do the Greens plan to repeal the law banning general tree protein across the country? - Aucklanders liked and enjoyed the protects of our great trees and having this protection removed has been a really appalling act by National.
I believe women are proportionately disadvantaged when it comes to schemes for retirement savings.
They earn less than men for the same jobs, they take time out to raise families, many run small businesses and are not eligible for employer contributions.
Is the Greens doing anything to look at financial disadvantages for women as they get older? If superannuation is cut down the track, gender based poverty is a real possibility in a user pays retirement model.
Thanks, Leanne. You raise a valid concern. One part of the solution is tackling pay inequality, the other is ensuring that state-funded superannuation remains in place and is economically viable.
Google cars. it is disruptive and will change the value of land everywhere in a BIG way. What are your thoughts?
Do you support Sue Kedgeley's and now Mojo Mathers' efforts on food labelling and the responsibilty of food chains to date meat processed for sale, so that consumers are not misled and made ill cf. case of New World and meat processing and dating by not when packed but when on shelves!
Yes, I think consumers should have a right to know what is in their food.
Thanks for the Q.
Gareth, as an active supporter of keeping Creswick clean and green are you keen to support more green spaces for family use in Wellington and to get more government subsidies behind DOC to conserve our environment?
Absolutely. The green spaces are part of what make Wellington such a great place to live.
DOC is seriously underfunded and we support increasing it. It’s in our economic sense to do so as well.
Thanks for the question.
What are the main barriers to aligning with the National Party?
I think there are a lot of well educated up and coming voters in the 20 to 40 age group who have very Green tendencies, but don't like Labour policy
Seems like a really unfortunate situation and you have some policies and leaders who in the most part are inoffensive and prime to make a lot of ground, apart from backing Labour.
The main barrier is National and the hard right anti-environment path they have taken this term.
We’ve demonstrated we can work with them on issues where we can agree like the successful home insulation scheme, cycleways and cleaning up toxic sites.
We care about getting stuff done and we’ve shown over our years in Parliament we can work in a variety of ways with various Governments to achieve our policies.
Sorry my compiter crashed and I answered a few Qs as anonymous accidentally. Back now.
well if you could knock a few more barriers down, compromise a bit more the Greens and National would be unstoppable .
There was a comment above where the Greens have many many tertiary qualified people, as National does - for the good of the country it would be great to see some more synergy between the 2
Have you ever inhaled?
Is there anyway to convince you and your colleagues to mine more coal?
why would we mine more coal? For one thing, prices are through the floor. it causes climate change. It destroys biodiversity. It causes asthma and air pollution and toxic waste.
No. Our policy is clear - we would not open any new mines and would phase out the older ones as they retire.
Our future is in looking to the future and clean energy not the past. Bloomberg reports more was invested in clean energy in fossil fuels internationally in 2011 and this is where the smart money is for NZ.
Gareth - more money was invested in clean energy... how about some return on investment figures??
Hi Gareth, do you agree with Russel Norman's comments regarding quantitative easing? If so, why do you support this and how do you know it won't harm our economy? Thanks.
Yes I do. Please see my earlier comments on QE. Thanks for the Q.
Will the greens continue to pursuit the debate down the slippery path of GST free "healthy" foods? In my opinion it is unwise.
New Zealand has enogh coal to keep the economy running for hundresd of years and make us a relatively rich nation. Not tyo mention gold and the positive impact this would have on our economy. Why are you worried about a few snails (which realistically nobody cares about or likes) and a small amount of native bush? Nobody ever goes anywhere near the snails and bush you keep waffling about unless it is one of your party going for their weekly bath in a river.
Why are you just so darn cute?
Does the New Zealand Green Party share this view of its overseas counterparts:
"There is a fundamental conflict between economic growth and ecological health (for example, biodiversity conservation, clean air and water, atmospheric stability)"?
If Labour is in a position to form a government with the Greens next election, what would your ultimate goals be with transport?
e.g would you cancel all the Roads of National Significance project? Give rail a huge boost like electrifying most of the network and investigate new routes?
Thanks Carl.
I wouldnt want to speculate on post-election negotiations (especially because Julie Ann Genter is our spokesperson on transport) but it's likely we would want to see a big shift in transport direction away from National's and in many cases we share similar views with Labour.
For example we both support Auckland's CBD Rail Link and saving the Gisborne to Napier rail line. The Greens have for the last ten years and more provided the smart thinking on transport policy and would provide the leadership needed for a balanced system that gets us all around us easier, cheaper and faster.
Thanks Gareth and thanks everybody. The session is now closed to new questions. Not all could be answered within the hour but Hughes hopes to get to more later today.
Thanks very much for the oportunity NBR and the questions you all raised.
I think it's fantastic we can use tools like this to discuss the big issues and appreciate you taking the time out to engage with me.
If you have any other questions drop me a line on Facebook, twitter or email.
Cheers.
Hi Gareth,
A lot of people seem to take the attitude that National are simply pro-development (at all costs), and greens are simply anti-development.
Do you think it is possible to have a National / Green partnership (assuming you can both look passed the ideology), which yeilds both economic development (with less bureaucracy), and protection of the environment (protecting national parks, rivers from pollution, ie: tourism local and international etc).
What are your thoughts on this?