Jordan Walker, who stood for the Gisborne District Council in last year’s local body elections, has been selected as the Green Party candidate for East Coast in this year’s general election.
Walker (they/them) grew up in Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa and has Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Te Rangi, Scottish and Irish whakapapa. Walker works in the arts sector, is a Consumer Council member at Te Whatu Ora, and is writing their MA thesis on the work economy.
They are passionate about mitigating social inequity, particularly for whānau on the East Coast.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to the local Green Party branches of Tairāwhiti-Gisborne and Ōpōtiki-Whakatāne for endorsing my nomination.
“I was eager to work for our people when I stood for council.
“Following Cyclone Gabrielle, I’m now more fuelled to work for our people in the face of the climate crisis,” says Walker.
“We can redesign the way we do things but we need a government that will prioritise Te Tiriti, tackle the climate crisis, and address inequity.
“Everyone deserves to thrive and to live an abundant life, and we need to ensure we have a liveable future for all in order for that to happen.
“Life is getting harder as we trudge through inflation, the cost of living, the housing crisis and now the obvious reality of the climate crisis.
“The impact of climate crisis-driven natural disasters such as Cyclone Gabrielle has hit people living in areas of high deprivation the hardest.
“This has meant relocation for our whānau in Te Karaka, isolation of our whānau up the Coast, food supply shortages and kai being too expensive for people to afford.
“It’s all interlinked. We need climate action, and we need to rebalance the wealth in Aotearoa,” they said.
The Green Party would cut climate pollution faster, and in honouring Te Tiriti would work with iwi and hapu in the nurturing of Papatūānuku.
“The Green Party will ensure that we have a liveable future, for all of us to thrive,” Jordan says.
“A vote for the Greens will set the direction of the next government.
“Only the Greens will take bold climate action, protect nature and rebalance wealth so everyone, our whānau, kids and mokopuna can live an abundant life.”
A total of 322 people voted for Walker in last year’s district council elections.
