After getting a good look at politics in last year's local body elections, Whangarei man Ash Holwell will stand for the Green Party in September's national elections.
Mr Holwell stood for mayor of Whangarei in October's local body elections on the TogetherTahi ticket, getting almost 1000 votes.
The party said Mr Holwell is adding grassroots experience and innovative thinking to ''the exciting line-up of Green candidates for the 2017 election''.
Mr Holwell has worked as a community and cultural leader in Whangarei during the past four years, since his return from a stint overseas. He has been a significant contributor to Whangarei's renewal, helping to create Whare Bike; a professional theatre group, Company of Giants, with actor/director Laurel Devenie; and, a community centre ONEONESIX on Bank St.
"The experience of living and working in communities that are struggling, because they aren't being listened to, is a huge motivator for me in my work. Running with the Greens is a powerful extension of this passion, and I dream of enabling the communities that I know and love, to flourish with a new government that actually cares about them," he said.