Greens share vision to community

Robyn Hewetson (left) with Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter and Alison Morley at St Francis Church, Clive at the public meeting last night. Photo/ Warren Buckland.

Up to 50 people packed St Francis Church in Clive last night to hear a Green Party MP and a candidate share their vision for New Zealand.

MP Julie-Anne Genter and candidate Chloe Swarbrick addressed the community about their policies with their priorities focused on protecting rivers and drinking water, taking action on climate change and stopping inequality.

Ms Genter said the Greens wanted to build New Zealand as a place that had clean green transport options, a place where all children had warm, dry and affordable homes, had access to quality education and also healthcare.

"Our party best represent values New Zealanders hold dear to them, we want to look after the environment long-term and give everybody a shot of living a good life. If people share these values then they should party vote Green this time."

Ms Swarbrick joined the party last year and said to the community she wanted to "fundamentally change the way forward" and the Greens covered the two biggest issues facing society.

"We are the only ones willing to do things right though not necessarily popular."

The event came two days after the announcement that the party were committed to rebuilding the Napier-Gisborne rail, which was a point of interest in the meeting.

Ms Genter said opening up the railway for passenger trains would alleviate the pressure on the current roading system.

"It would give us economic development opportunities, make our roads safer and more maintained."

As part of their plan to revitalise rail, the track between Napier and Palmerston North would also become a passenger service with trips twice daily. They were proposing to extend this passenger rail down to Wellington.

Another interest in the meeting was water and both Greens said they were determined to make sure everyone had the right to pure, clean and fresh water.