The Green Party candidate for the Tauranga electorate at this year's general election is Dr Ian McLean.
He is a Tauranga born environmental scientist who studied biology at the University of Auckland before obtaining his PhD in Canada.
Ian McLean (inset), by the Tauranga Environment Centre - the scene of his confirmation as Green Party candidate for Tauranga.
After some years as an academic, he switched careers and spent five years working for the United Nations supporting post-war recovery programmes.
His present occupation is as caregiver for his two small children.
Ian lives in Poike and is involved in many community initiatives, such as the Welcome Bay community plan, community gardens, kohanga reo, Transition Towns and the Environment Centre.
'I cannot imagine why anybody would not stand for the four pillars of the Green charter,” says Ian.
'Environmental wisdom, social responsibility, appropriate decision making, and non-violence are fundamental principles of any stable democratic society.
'Personally, I stand for resilient communities, sustainable environmental management, social equity, and a truly bicultural society.
'I am both proud and humbled to have the opportunity to promote these objectives as the Green Party candidate for Tauranga.”
'Without sustainable environmental management, we will not have a sustainable economy.
'For example, the oil prospecting currently occurring off East Cape threatens the livelihood of the tangata whenua of the region, along with the enjoyment of that coastline by all Kiwis.
'We need energy, yes, but there are better ways.”
Ian says the Green Party's focus is on winning party votes and so is advocating people select to maintain MMP in the referendum.
'While support for the Greens is growing dramatically, the Greens still depend on MMP to deliver our Members of Parliament,” says Ian.
'To ensure that the Green pillars are delivered, the electorate needs to vote for MMP in the coming referendum.”
12 comments
More gobbledygook
Posted on 31-05-2011 16:49 | By al pillocksworth
Dr Ian wonders why anyone wouldn't stand for the green pillars. Probably because they're over stuff like 'Personally, I stand for resilient communities, sustainable environmental management, social equity, and a truly bicultural society." Debating exactly what is resilient, sustainable, equitable and bicultural will keep the politicians and bureaucratic policy analysts busy for years. Wonder if Dr Ian is happy to consume oil from other countries, although concerned about oil prospecting in NZ? Did he fly in an aeroplane to his United Nations work - I prefer a sailboat, far more sustainable. Anyway good on him for standing because choice is essential for democracy. But I'll be looking at more practical and pragmatic solutions from politicians who practice what they preach (probably and impossibility!)
Alternative to the major parties
Posted on 31-05-2011 17:48 | By ronillian
With National selling off the family silver, giving tax cuts to the rich, trying to mine our conservation estate, increasing foreign ownership of NZ, and with Labour not offering much alternative, and both the major parties giving mildly different versions of the mindless mantra "economic growth". it's about time a party like the Green Party offered an aleternative vision. It's interesting that without an MMP system of voting the Green Party would have ZERO MPs. Whatever you think about the Greens it just is plainly obvious that any voting system other than MMP/proportional representation is unfair and would disenfranchise the 7-8 % of people that vote Green.
Congratulations Ian
Posted on 31-05-2011 17:57 | By Nigel Barker
and all the very best with your journey. I could have 'some' respect for the 'Greens' if they would tell what the solutions are. For instance you say **'We need energy, yes, but there are better ways.”** Well ..?? Like over on the West Coast of The Mainland 'Greens' oppose mining, forestry etc etc. Are the real solutions putting huge steel spikes in trees so they blow the saw apart at HUGE risk to life and limb. I do not recall ever seeing a workable,employment generating solutions from the 'Greens' (or in fact other knockers). As a (proud) one eyed Cantabrian I have spent many many hours, weeks on 'The Coast' and lived there for some time. With respect Ian have you ever talked with 'those people' have you even been there?? Maybe you would like to take the opportunity via this medium to explain "HOW" (including funding issues) we can achieve what you believe in. In the mean time I will support what the people who have dedicated their life to living on The Coast, want. PS ~ how does your family: get to school, go away on holiday,travel overseas, make their books (or buy paper ones from offshore?),write things down (in charcoal?) power (generate your own?) get vegetables and eggs(super market?)winter warmth (power generated by others?) ... the list is endless. Ian do you live as you want others to live? Again all the best.
At last, someone worth voting for!
Posted on 31-05-2011 18:12 | By Otters
Whilst most politicians continue with the same rhetoric, Dr McLean and the Greens generally are saying something vitally different. It's people, and the environment that matter, not nebulous ideas such as "economic growth" that benefit a few (rich!) people at the expense of the rest of us and our environment. And no environment, no economy! When peak oil, peak water, peak food and climate change really start biting (as they already are, here and in many other parts of the world)we will need these four pillars to see us through. Then the "other" parties will be scrambling to claim Green policies and actions as their own!
Otters ~ tell us simple people more
Posted on 31-05-2011 20:48 | By Nigel Barker
How are 'those' ideals going to be achieved? How will they be funded? Will they create jobs? If so how? I think the propaganda is wonderful. Very well done. Now sir 'the reality' and how it will be achieved is ... ?? Maybe the answer is "just the same as all other parties" ... it won't be!!
Thoughtful comments
Posted on 01-06-2011 06:10 | By IanM
It is great to see the thoughtful comments already posted here, although I can't respond in full detail to all of them. To Nigel Barker, yes, I lived in Chch for 10 years, am providing some post-earthquake support, and spent a great deal of time working on the West Coast, particularly in Fiordland. I have also lived in Dunedin, Taupo, Rotorua, Auckland and Northland. On energy, the better ways include more effective use of geothermal energy and solar water heating - every house has a heat collector (we call it a roof), but most of us don't bother using it for that obvious function. On your endless list of sustainability challenges I will offer just a few things: my car uses 600 litres of fuel per year (because it is one of the most fuel efficient available, and we minimise its use through preference for bikes), 80% of the vegetables for my family comes from our urban garden, we put out one bag of rubbish about every 6 weeks, and our summer family electricity bill is $65. My kids (3 & 5) pick up rubbish in the street because they choose to. Yes, I do my best to walk the talk. To Pillocksworth - I prefer a sailboat too, although mostly I use a bicycle because the places I need to go are on land. Yes, I flew 2 million air miles in 5 years with the UN. That was the job, and the destinations were not on any standard tourist route. I have been on a plane just once since returning to NZ in 2005, and that was to go to Chch to provide some support there. If I succeeded in getting elected, I am already wondering how I can do the awful commuting to Wellington on a horse or a bicycle.
Changes afoot in Green politics - no more Nandor types
Posted on 01-06-2011 12:28 | By esquire
Interesting to see someone of Ian's ilk entering the Green Party. Very similar kind of history to Ken Graham. All the best Ian, you are going to need it in this blue town!
Lovely to see an educated man
Posted on 01-06-2011 14:19 | By LatifahDedah
I am thrilled that a doctor has been chose as a candidate for our elections. Education is a wonderful thing and we could all learn from it. I am a greenie at heart. Had the old riding jodhpurs out the other day to take the old nag out for a trot. I thought, by golly I could get used to this equine transport thing. But then it was back to reality of city living and filling the Merc at the gas station. Economic growth is so overrated. I have most things, but do they make me happy? Not really. No need for cars, planes, cellphones, computers, tv, movies, mining, industry, commerce and other environmentally horrific stuff like convenience foods. I've had my gardener plant a veggie patch which I must say made me feel better about last summer's boating and that holiday in the islands. Sort of like a self-imposed carbon tax. Marvellous.
Why?
Posted on 02-06-2011 10:39 | By morepork
Most NZers are very committed to preservation of the environment, care about mining and exploitation of our pristine resources, so the Green platform is a pretty easy one to sell. And yet 92% of the population DON'T vote for Green and the ONLY way they will get representation is if MMP is continued. Why? I'm sure Dr.Ian is a good man, but it would seem that the Green party needs to demonstrate some awareness of how to develop a nation as well as how to keep it green. That is a harder platform to sell. I wish them well, but if they can't get a candidate in without MMP it would seem that they haven't connected with the core of the electorate yet. In a democracy, that means they have more work to do... (No right thinking Kiwiw would oppose it.)
More to it ...
Posted on 04-06-2011 16:31 | By Rich
I don't agree that most New Zealanders are very committed to preservation of the environment, but that aside, I don't think that the absence of that commitment is the reason for voters effectively voting against the Green Party having greater influence on the law in Aotearoa.
@Rich
Posted on 05-06-2011 12:37 | By morepork
I would agree that my statement is arguable (it was based on conversations with people I know, and articles I see in newspapers, magazines and web sites/blogs) and I certainly can't prove it. However, if you are right and most Kiwis are not committed to the Environment, but you don't think that is why they don't support the greens, then what reason do YOU think they have for not supporting the Green party?
oh no not more cliches
Posted on 10-06-2011 16:38 | By Gringo
In the information age cliches such as "selling off the family silver" etc are weak. As for tax cuts what do you think happens to the extra money that any tax cut gives people? It stays in the economy one way or another and ultimately goes back to the government eventually it doesn't disappear into outer space. the people that stand to gain most from mining are the poor and the government, there is plenty of land to be utilised in this coutry and we are fools not to do it all be it carefully. Waihi is a great example of a town with no future before mining and a great one post mining operations. Forget the cliches people, use common sense and read up on economics if you really want to help your fellow countryman. Why shouldn't minorities feel disenfranchised? (cliche management speak again) I think it is part of being in the minority isn't it? A vote for the greens is a vote for keeping the country poor. NZ is a spec on the planet lets get real, we are not china, anything we do is insignificant by comparison.
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