imnofox returns to his roots, doorknocking in the suburbs of Porirua

“Kia ora, my name is imnofox, just out here talking about the Green Party and tomorrow’s election. How are you?”

”Oh, I’m alright. My names Dave.”

“Hi Dave. May I ask who you’re planning on voting for tomorrow?”*

”Yeah, well. I’m kinda torn between the Greens and TOP. Both present those kinds of ‘new ideas’ to old problems, or just new problems really. I’m quite a fan of the current government, you see.”

“Well Dave, let me say this. While the Greens are committed to comprehensive climate action, including ending offshore oil and gas exploration, National aren’t at all. And unfortunately, TOP could go either way. After all, both parties support the further privatisation of state assets, both oppose ending offshore oil and gas exploration against all evidence, and both want to weaken the Resource Management Act. So we’ve got to way these things up. Do you want to vote for a Greens-led government like the one we have today, or do you want to leave it up to chance?”

”Hmm, that’s a compelling argument. Tell me more about this offshore oil and gas exploration ban. I’ve heard that it’s useless.”

“It’s only useless if you rely on some foolish assumptions. Numbers cited by National and TOP assume that globally, countries do no more to reduce emissions than they have already started doing, and that fossil fuels are an infinite resource, neither of which are true. For every 100 tonnes of CO2e we stop, globally we reduce emissions by 50 to 75 CO2e. That’s a good deal, and a necessary deal for the prevention of further climate breakdown.”

”Oh, interesting. Won’t some people be impacted? I heard this will cost 11,000 jobs?”

“Well, that’s the spin from PEPANZ, the oil industry lobby group, stretching out the definitions and the numbers, first counting direct jobs, then indirect jobs (those employed in supplying inputs), induced jobs (those employed to provide goods and services to meet consumption demands of directly and indirectly employed workers like hospitality staff) and then added ‘feedstock’ employment on top of that, industries like Methanex and Fonterra that use gas in their production. So if we look at the numbers that really matter, it’s just 2,630 people that need retraining, and businesses employing about 4,000 people who’ll just need to revise their business direction. So that’s about half the number given by PEPANZ, and nowhere near all of them have their jobs at risk.”

”What about those who do need new employment.?”

“We’ve got that covered. The Regional Investment Corporation ought to be expanded with a mandate to invest in affected regions, ensuring that retraining is available and that these regional economies still thrive. A key part of our vision is ensuring nobody is left behind, the just transition.”

”Wow, you’ve got a pretty solid plan. Alright, I’m sold- you’ve allayed my concerns. I’ll get out there and vote two ticks Green tomorrow!”

“Good to hear it, have a good one!”

imnofox walked down the street, dodging a runaway football, before knocking on the next door

“Kia ora, my name is imnofox, former local Green MP, out here campaigning for the Greens once more. How are you?”

”Oh! I remember when you were our local representative. Good times. I’m quite excited to vote a Green back into Wellington once more.”

“Glad to hear it, I don’t need to ask who you’re voting for then!”

”Oh yes, I’m definitely ticking the Green Party off tomorrow. I did want to ask though- who will you be forming government with?”

“Ahahaha, well. Obviously we will always be forming coalition with our good friends in the Labour Party. Whether or not we continue to work with TOP and United Future, whether in coalition, confidence & supply, or not at all will obviously depend on the results and negotiations. But I can assure you, unlike TOP and United Future, we definitely won’t be working with National or ACT. That would just be irresponsible.”

”Good to hear it. Seems like some of these centrist parties are holding us back, seems these two parties have been trying to cozy up to National and distance themselves from the government. Quite surprising if you ask me.”

“Yeah, well, if they think that’s in their self interest, that’s their problem. I’m focussed on getting the Greens and Labour back into government. That really is the goal.”

”Well thank you, I’ll make sure to vote two ticks Green tomorrow. Good chat!”

“Yes, have a good one!"

imnofox jived down the street some more, pressing the doorbell at number 64

“Kia ora, my name is imnofox, out here hoping to get your vote for the Greens. How are you?”

”Yeah, I’m alright. Name’s Judy, by the way.”

“Hi Judy. So do you mind if I ask who you’re voting for tomorrow?”

”I’m stuck between National and Greens. I’m a bit of a blue-green, you see.”

“Well, unfortunately, National isn’t an environmentalist party. When they were in government, they halved the Department of Conservation’s baseline budget, their predator control funding, and funding for Predator Control 2050. They also scrapped funding for waterway cleanup projects, instead using this money to buy new toys for the military, which they just don’t need. The term following that, they made just 5 simple promises for the environment, and achieved not even one. It took the Greens in government to restore all this funding and take real action for the environment, including ending mining on conservation land, creating the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary and the South Taranaki Bight Whale Sanctuary, and introducing the first real protections for our threatened indigenous freshwater fish. On top of that, they want to repeal the plastic bag ban we introduced! So I don’t think, unfortunately, they can ever claim to be an environmentalist party.”

”Oh, that’s so sad. Well, I am a little bit concerned about this oil and gas ban- some say it will actually increase emissions?”

“Well, it would under a National government. See, it would increase emissions if we assume that the world won’t take any further action to reduce emissions than countries are already doing, which frankly is the most ridiculous assumption, but of course that’s really all National has planned. So for every 100 tonnes of CO2e we stop, global emissions would drop by 50 to 75 tonnes of CO2e. That’s a win.”

”Wow, that is a silly assumption! We really do need to be more careful than to just accept oil industry spin, I guess. Thanks for clearing that up. Well, I’m not a hundred percent sure yet, but I think I’ll probably vote Green tomorrow.”

“Thanks Judy, that’s good to hear. I’ll let you get on with your day, don’t want to keep you!”

imnofox continued doorknocking in the Porirua suburbs throughout the rest of the day, pushing hard for the Greens and ARichTeaBiscuit