Ian McLean Spokesperson for the Green Party

The Green Party has announced that it will support two local Tauranga candidates in the local body elections in 2013 – Dr Ian McLean and Delwyn Walker.

Ian will stand for Bay of Plenty Regional Council in the Tauranga ward. Delwyn will stand for Tauranga City Council in the Te Papa / Welcome Bay ward.

Delwyn Walker is of Ngai Te Rangi and Ngati Ranginui descent. She holds a bachelor degree in social science, with a double major in public policy and history, from Waikato University, and a graduate diploma in business, specialising in Maori development, from the University of Auckland. She has extensive experience in iwi management and community development, including Whanau Ora.

Ian McLean has a PhD in biology, specialising in environmental science, conservation and ecology. After teaching at the universities of Auckland and Canterbury, he spent five years with the United Nations working on post-war recovery programmes. On returning to New Zealand, he worked in RMA policy and planning with local government. He is currently the primary caregiver for two young children.

Both candidates are locally born and, if elected, will bring a wealth of skills to the council chambers.

In many modern democracies, it is routine for local body candidates to stand under a party banner. However, in NZ most candidates stand as independents. As a result, their political position is not always clear.

The key benefit for voters of party-approved candidates is that there is a published policy framework to which the candidates are known to be committed.

Ian McLean is a spokesperson for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. For information, contact him on 021 547 556, 07 579 4670 or email: ian.mclean@greens.org.nz