Greens candidate for Tauranga seat 'passionate' about need for change

Emma-Leigh Hodge is Tauranga's candidate for the Green Party. Photo/John Borren

Emma-Leigh Hodge has been named as the Green Party candidate for Tauranga.

The 25-year-old joined the Green party after seeing the desperate need for better environmental protection, affordable homes, and transport solutions across Tauranga and New Zealand just before the 2014 elections.

"I was really passionate we needed a change then, and we definitely need a change now," she told the Bay of Plenty Times.

Ms Hodge studied social sciences and was studying for a PhD in psychology on online behaviour, with an emphasis on bullying, at the University of Waikato in Tauranga. She also helped deliver the undergraduate psychology program at the campus.

She was excited to run a grassroots campaign across Tauranga over the next few months.

"Our environment is already struggling, with polluted waterways, poor leadership on carbon management, and sprawling cities, all promoted by policies of the current government," she said.

Ms Hodge has lived in and around the Gate Pa and Merivale areas for some years and was concerned about the level of poverty she had seen in the communities.

She opposed the selling of 1200 state houses to Accessible Properties.

"It's ridiculous we have a housing crisis, we have problems with homelessness and poverty, and then one of the resources we have to help fix that problem is sold off."

Inequality across the Bay of Plenty and the rest of the country had been shown to cause health problems in children, including long-term effects on psychological well-being, she said.

"I am ashamed that inequality has been increasing my entire life and that it is still being promoted by current government policies".

James Shaw, Green Party co-leader, said Ms Hodge was a fantastic candidate for the Green Party.

"She brings enormous enthusiasm, an absolute commitment to environmental and social issues, and is a great advocate for youth".