The Greens are selling themselves as the only party campaigning on progressive, evidence-based policies and have told party faithful they're counting on them to spread the message far and wide
Green Party co-leader James Shaw has declared this year’s election campaign as already the largest grassroots effort ever.
Speaking to a full Public Trust Hall in Wellington on Sunday at the party’s official campaign launch, Shaw told the crowd this election would be won on the backs of volunteers. READ MORE: * ‘This election is the last chance’: Greens kick off Auckland campaigns * Raw Politics: Can the Greens save the left?
“I want to welcome you to a campaign that has come together in communities up and down Aotearoa, not in boardrooms or focus groups ... a campaign that I am delighted to tell you has had the biggest start of any campaign that we have ever run.
“Hundreds of volunteers, up and down the country, have already picked up a phone or knocked on the doors of more than 30,000 people.”
A sense of urgency rung out as Shaw issued a rallying cry to those party faithful to hit the pavement, knock on doors and drop pamphlets to as many people as possible.
“Who is in government this year, making the decisions that will affect your life and the lives of the people you love, could be decided by just one seat in Parliament. It is that close.
“One seat, either way, could determine the future direction of our country and that seat could be decided by just a few thousand votes.”
The party is working hard to sell the message that while Labour’s campaign slogan is “In It For You” the Greens are the only party actually prepared to live and breathe that message.
“Our political leaders owe us a conversation based on evidence... They are using fear as a motivator because they have nothing else. No vision. No courage. No moral compass.” – James Shaw on National and Act
Shaw admitted he would be comfortable sitting on the cross benches if that's what it took to stop regressive policies over the line, particularly if an agreement on tax couldn’t be met.
“Whatever hand we are dealt after this election, New Zealanders should be in no doubt that we will make use of every inch of it.
“If that means more Green ministers in Cabinet, or sitting on the cross benches and fighting on every piece of legislation, we will use our power in the most effective way we can to get the change we so desperately need.
“Let’s be clear, there has never been a better time to shake up our tax system. Inequality is not an inevitability it is a political decision – and different decisions can be made ... if political leaders are not willing to take difficult decisions on behalf of the people of the country they purport to lead, why be in politics at all?” Shaw told the crowd.
It’s a strong message to Labour that Greens support come October should not be taken for granted and a message to voters that a Green vote won’t be swallowed up and lost should a coalition be formed.
For the Greens to have that leverage though, they needs as many MPs as possible. The party's feeling confident about its chances in Rongotai and Wellington Central, with lessons learned from Chlöe Swarbrick's win in Auckland Central last election, being used as a model.
Shaw was also not holding anything back against National and Act.
“Our political leaders owe us a conversation based on evidence. I say that because the fear and anxiety National and Act have filled our headlines and social media feeds with, over the last 12 months, appalls me.
“They are using fear as a motivator because they have nothing else. No vision. No courage. No moral compass.”
A campaign and policies based on evidence and for the the betterment of New Zealanders is the pitch from the Greens and leaders are feeling confident with more volunteers than ever, that message will be spread far and wide.
They will be hoping Labour's recent ruling-out of comprehensive tax changes, and the latest National and Act policies to ramp up punitive law reform will mean voters who share this vision will now see the Greens as the only viable option.
