as if it were his favourite show or something, imnofox appeared on Checkpoint with John Campbell once more to update John Campbell on the campaign’s progress

”Kia ora, imnofox! Great to have you back on the show. You’re about halfway through the campaign now, what’s your feeling on the ground?”

“For a start, it’s great to be here. I’ve been doorknocking till the soles of my shoes wear holes and my knuckles are red raw, and every door i’ve knocked on has said similar things. They’re struggling with rent, living costs are too high, they’re watching their rivers get dirtier, their roads get more congested, and more homeless people living rough on their local streets. There is a strong mood for change, and I’ve got a great feeling. There’s so much momentum at the grassroots level campaigning for the Green kaupapa and it’s inspiring.”

”The polls have you at a record 7 seats. But that alone isn’t enough for a majority. Reform still holds the kingmaker position. Can you win over and work with Reform?”

“I’m proud of our polling, and it’s clear we’re running a strong campaign. I’m excited and enthused about the prospect of forming government, and I do recognise with the current numbers Reform is in that kingmaker position. It’s clear the Greens and Reform have a lot of current ground. We both want to invest in our agricultural industry, unlike the current government. We both want to support New Zealand businesses, and tighten up the rules around foreign investment. But at the same time, we really have stark differences when it comes to immigration. We reject those fundamentally isolationist policies. We oppose discrimination against muslim immigrants, as campaigned on by one Reform candidate. We reject their discredited ‘tough on crime’ approach to justice, and we reject their plans to restore heavy taxes on the poor. The fundamental reality is, a vote for the Greens is a vote to change the government, as is a vote for some other parties on my side of the house. A vote for Reform is a vote for who knows what. You could vote for Reform whether by party vote or electorate vote, and your vote is a coin toss. Heads, you keep this disastrous government you’re clearly not voting for, and tails, you get a new progressive government that supports the people of New Zealand, not just the lucky few.”

”Reform has campaigned on reversing the Liberal government’s tax changes. Despite being the left-wing opposition, it sounds like you’re not on board.”

“Let’s be clear, this is a bad tax plan. It gives more to the rich than it does to the poor, slashes business tax, and cancels the CGT to slash the support for our most vulnerable: both people and planet. But we reject Reform’s blanket approach to tax reform. The Greens in government won’t raise taxes on those in the lower and middle brackets. These people are hurting too, and taxing them more won’t help them. We need to introduce new tax brackets for those who can afford it, starting with a new income tax bracket for income over $140,000. It’s time the rich paid their fare share, instead of profiting off of the backs of our most vulnerable.”

”You’ve been campaigning in rural areas recently, which are not historically places Greens venture.”

“That’s right John, but farmers are pissed. And they have every right to be. Finally, they had two terms of government that actually recognised the impact climate change will have on the agricultural industry. They had real support for transitioning to sustainable agricultural practices, which in the long term will help ensure the survival, profitability, and wellbeing of our primary industries. Farmers made great use of it, with great results. But the Minister for Primary Industries, /u/Kingethan15, under that Liberal-National government instantly slashed that funding by $621 million. The most ridiculous part is, $137 million of that was paid for by the nitrate pollution levy, charged on nitrate pollution of our rivers. Farmers still pay that levy for any river pollution, which is fair- but now they see absolutely none of the benefits of that money. Instead, that $137m charged is no longer going back into New Zealand’s farms, but overseas to buy new aircraft for the military. That is fiscal dishonesty. Farmers have every right to be pissed.”

”That’s pretty shocking, and yet nobody noticed. Sounds like the former Minister for Primary Industries has some explaining to do.”

“That’s exactly right, John, and that’s exactly why so many farmers in the eastern North Island rallied in the electorate /u/Kingethan15 is trying to win. There’s a strong Green candidate there who’ll actually stand up for farmers, and is doing exceptionally well in an electorate nobody thought the Greens would have a chance in. That’s a first. Let’s hope this destructive Liberal-National government is the last.”

”Thanks for speaking to me today, and good luck on the campaign trail!”

“Thank you, John!”

across the country voters could be heard clapping as the interview finished, broadcasting into homes up and down the country live. One Liberal voter set himself on fire after realising the harm that the government caused. A Reform voter came to her senses after the interview ended, and donated to the Labour Party.