The Opportunities Party, candidates.
“I’m proud to announce our first set of candidates,” says The Opportunities Party Leader Dr Gareth Morgan. “They are all top quality people who are committed to offering Kiwis evidence based solutions to the problems we face. These are the kinds of people we need in Parliament.”
The candidates announced today are:
Jessica Hammond Doube - Candidate for Ōhāriu
Lesley Immink - Candidate for East Coast
Jenny Condie - Tax Spokesperson & List Candidate
Geoff Simmons - Deputy Leader & Candidate for Wellington Central
“I’m happy to announce that I am still the oldest candidate,” quipped Morgan. “But seriously this is all about building a team that can keep this party growing into this election and beyond. We have more candidates to come, but this lot are raring to get started so they can knock the Establishment Parties out of their complacency. Kiwis want change, and the movement is building.”
The candidates all have an impressive background. East Coast candidate Lesley Immink has 30 years experience in the tourism industry and is currently CEO of the Tourism Export Council NZ (TECNZ). Tax Spokesperson and List candidate Jenny Condie is a lecturer, has a PhD in accounting and is a mother of two young boys. Ōhāriu candidate and resident Jessica Hammond-Doube is a public servant and mother of two. Wellington Central candidate and Deputy Leader Geoff Simmons is an economist and former General Manager of the Morgan Foundation.
“As a researcher myself I strongly believe in policy that is backed by the highest quality evidence” says Tax spokesperson Jenny Condie.
“New Zealanders are ready for some new solutions,” says Ōhāriu candidate Jessica Hammond Doube “and nowhere is that more true than in Ōhāriu, where Peter Dunne has been our MP since I was 5.”
“As CEO of Tourism Export Council NZ I’ve not been impressed with the Government’s lack of vision in terms of environmental protection,” says East Coast candidate Lesley Immink.
“It’s great to have some more people on board standing beside us. I’m happy to be part of a movement” says Wellington Central candidate & Deputy Leader Geoff Simmons.
-
Oliver Krollmann followed this page 2017-05-29 12:20:15 +1200 -
Sophie Tamati commented 2017-05-26 22:03:04 +1200Māori (and Pacific) children are more than twice as likely as Pākehā children to grow up in households experiencing significant hardships. Inequalities in income and living standards put Māori children and youth at increased risk of problems with ears, eyes, and teeth; higher likelihood of becoming a smoker and a higher risk of alcohol related hospitalisations. The average hourly earnings of Māori wage earners is more than $5 lower than that of Pākehā23 and the Treasury reports that about 60% of Māori (and Pacific) wage earners earn below the Living Wage ($18.40 per hour). It doesn’t have to be this way. The redistribution of power, money and resources is essential to achieve an inclusive society with equitable outcomes in Health and Housing for all.
-
Sophie Tamati followed this page 2017-05-26 19:52:45 +1200
-
Tim Sione Keni Lalahi commented 2017-05-24 15:52:11 +1200These guys all seem to be good, I’ve seen Geoff explain financial stuff before in really helpful ways. I see Lesley Immink has ties to some tangata whenua which is good. The others all have relevant experience and knowledge.
I’m hoping some strong candidates who represent Māori, Pasifika, the Middle East, or perhaps Africa through their lineage could be found or could stand up.
Not that I don’t think Morgan has already done a good job in showing his support for tikanga Māori, I just think that it can just be different sometimes coming from tauiwi… -
Bruce Mason commented 2017-05-24 11:37:00 +1200“As a researcher myself I strongly believe in policy that is backed by the highest quality evidence” says Tax spokesperson Jenny Condie. I strongly endorse such an approach. Now apply the same to your TOW-related policies. The Maori language document is the only reliable ‘version’ of the Treaty. Where is the ‘partnership’; shared sovereignty; mana whenua; tanata whenua, etc?