Green Candidate Campaigning for the Party Vote in Tauranga

Regional Councillor Karen Summerhays was selected today as the Green Party candidate for the Tauranga electorate.

"The Green Party champions many issues that effect Tauranga people, from managing urban development to building a fairer society and protecting a world-class coastal environment. Tauranga people need a party that understands community needs and issues and is accessible and transparent.

"The Green Party is campaigning for a country where everyone has decent housing, healthy affordable food and a truly sustainable environment. " Ms Summerhays says.

Ms Summerhays has wide experience in regional and local politics and was the winner of the Tauranga Community Spirit Award Environment category 2007. She was re-elected to Environment Bay of Plenty in 2007 representing Tauranga and will be continuing in this role.

"One of our key election strategies is to highlight that the Green Party is committed to principled and positive politics. My local experience tells me Tauranga people are ready to vote for a Party which has a commitment to ethical politics as well as future generations and a planet with finite resources, Ms Summerhays says. Although our six MPs have achieved a lot, they are limited in what they can achieve by themselves. New Zealand needs more Green MPs in Parliament and I will be campaigning for the Party Vote. It is likely that the third largest party will determine the next government, and the principled, positive and practical Greens will clearly be that party," Ms Summerhays says.

Karen Summerhays is well known in Tauranga for her work to protect the region from genetically modified food production and her involvement with local environmental and community development projects.