imnofox laced up his boots and took to the doorsteps, continuing his doorknocking campaign throughout the giant electorate

imnofox knocks on a Devon Street door

“Hi, I’m imnofox, your local Green candidate in this by-election. I’m out here today to hear from voters about what they care about.”

”Oh, hi, my name’s Michael. It’s really great there’s even a by-election on because finally, the politicians have to listen to us, you know? Living out here is just getting harder and harder, with relative wages declining while housing costs increase and all that. I’ve lived here for almost 50 years of my life, and then just when I think I’m getting to the end of these struggles, the government tries to take my pension away.”

“Yeah, I really hear you. It’s crazy to see the state of the housing market. One of the great things we did in government with TOP was starting taxing capital income on property just like we tax any other income, which disincentivised investors from investing in property over productive assets. Unfortunately, National saw this as just another tax on their rich mates so repealed it, instead pretending further deregulation will solve the crisis they created.”

“The changes to superannuation by the National Party are little different. In government, we first restored contributions to the Cullen Fund, which National had neglected- creating the unsustainability of our superannuation scheme in the first place. Then, instead of changing the eligibility age, we just started means testing the programme, saving billions. National came into the government, repealed the means testing, giving state superannuation to millionaires who didn’t need it and decided to make it harder for working class people to retire by changing the eligibility age. Even then it was cruel and ideological. What was shocking this term was to see National try and bring forward the age changes to next year, disrupting the retirement plans of thousands of aging workers. It was cruel and unnecessary, and I was pleased we could stop it. Honestly, we need to do better by working people because it’s just a matter of fairness.”

”Oh, that’s right! It feels like we’ve spent a lifetime under this National government, so I’d almost forgotten the bold achievements of the left in government that actually made New Zealand a little fairer. It’s good to hear that you blocked the superannuation changes, but I really hope you can revert the ones they made last term as well.”

“Yeah, I can promise that. We need to give everyone a fair go, rather than give the top 5% tax breaks and unneeded pensions.”

”That’s pleasing to hear, I look forward to voting for you!”

imnofox thanked Michael, and then left for the next house

“Kia ora, my name is imnofox, your local Green candidate for the Whanganui by-election. How are you doing today?”

”Hi, I’m Judith. I want to ask you about a billboard I saw from the National Party? They were claiming you had three times in government to expand the whale sanctuary, but you never did? Why not?”

“Well, I’m glad I can clarify this. Once again, we’re seeing the National Party run a dirty dishonest campaign, and really voters deserve better. The reality is, the current South Taranaki Bight Ocean Sanctuary was created by the Greens in government the second time we were in government. If it weren’t for the Greens in government, we wouldn’t even have the sanctuary that National voted against. It took weeks of negotiating with The Opportunities Party to find consensus on those borders. We’ve always wanted a bigger sanctuary that includes the northern area, but when we returned to government again we relied on the centrist Kiwi Party. The reality is that the only party committed to expanding the sanctuary to the north is the Greens, and we might just need a Green majority in parliament to do so.”

”So the Greens are actually the only party that will expand the sanctuary?”

“Yeah, that’s the real truth behind National’s spin.”

*”Seems awfully dishonest to put that billboard up. I really think we need to restore some kind of civility and honesty to politics. Some of the things I see politicians say on TV is just disgraceful.

“I know, right? Just the other day we had the Kiwi Party, National’s support partner, refusing to back down after they horrifically accused the Greens of trying to kill off all farmers. That is the state of our parliament and the state of our government, it’s more sad than anything else.”

”I’m glad you’re running a clean campaign on honesty, that along with the sanctuary will really help inform my vote.”

“Glad to hear it Judith, I look forward to being your representative next week!”

imnofox wandered to the next house, which had a beautifully maintained hedge

“Kia ora, my name is imnofox, your local Green candidate for Whanganui. I’d love to hear about what you care about.”

”Ah, cheers! I’m Jacob, I work up in the oil industry. I’m really not sure about you, a lot of this region depends on oil.”

“You’re right to be anxious about the future, because the reality is that a lot of this electorate relies heavily on oil extraction for its income. The reality is also that is international carbon prices rise and our stock of oil is depleted, this industry will die. What I’m proposing is a managed transition away from oil towards new industries, such as clean energy. With the Green Party’s 6 years of fees-free tertiary education for adult learners, it will be easy and cost-effective to retrain to a new career, and government investment through things like the Regional Investment Corporation and perhaps NZ First’s Provincial Growth Fund. National has no plan, and we can’t let this region go the way the West Coast has.”

”I guess I’ve never really thought of it quite that way, always believed this is just the way it is. But you do have a point, so I’m glad someone’s started thinking about it.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ll let you get back to your day, have a good one Jacob!”

imnofox walked to many more doors and had many more pleasant and constructive conversations