Green politics for talks

Press, 26 October 1989, Page 23

Green politics for talks

PA Wellington Green politics and its future in New Zealand will be discussed at a national gathering next month, says a Green Alternative spokesman, Mr Alan Hallett. About 150 people are expected to attend. Green Alternative, the coalition that backed the successful Wellington City Council candidate, Mr Stephen Rainbow, will hold the week-end meeting at Wainuiomata near Wellington from November 17 to 19.

“We want to examine what needs to be set up for a Green party to work in New Zealand,” said Mr Hallett, a former Values Party member. That may mean forming a Green party, or a federation of Green parties, but the meeting “could decide to do nothing at all.” A range of issues will be tackled by the gathering, including: • What degree of national co-ordination is needed. • Concern about the sincerity and abilities of

people jumping on the Green bandwaggon. • The feasibility of contesting the 1990 General Election. • Which serves the Green movement best — local groups or national bodies. • Whether the Green movement is better off remaining as single-issue lobby groups. Green parties have gained prominence in Europe during the last decade. Switzerland, in 1979, was the first country to vote a Green party member into Parliament.