Gareth Hughes. Supplied photo.
Emily Menkes talks to Green MP Gareth Hughes and finds
out why he thinks Greens have the answer for students.
Despite this being the umpteenth interview he has given today
(one of which included an incident with a cow suit for the
show Campus Otago weekly (COW TV)) during his trip in
Dunedin, Gareth Hughes remains perky.
He's on a tight schedule, which is only to be expected after
becoming Parliament's youngest MP.
He entered Parliament by virtue of his high place on the
party's list when co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons stood down.
Because of his age, Hughes believes he is in a great position
to get the views of young people.
"Many of young people's interests aren't being represented,
and they need to have a voice. I'm really keen to have a chat
[with them].
"Politicians shouldn't be on a pedestal."
Hughes (28), of Gisborne, believes the Greens' tertiary
polices would greatly benefit students.
Probably the most appealing one is the movement towards a
universal student allowance.
"Student debt is becoming a massive issue in New Zealand.
It's too big to simply wipe it, but [a universal student
allowance] should help all students manage it better."
He advocates the Greens' strong stance against VSM (Voluntary
Student Membership) and the 90-day Working Bill, as he sees
student unemployment to be another issue for New Zealand that
needs to be addressed.
He also wants to get student flats "warmer, dryer and
healthier", noting the "big gaps" in quality.
All this seems like a very tall order, and this is on top of
the other things Hughes wants to achieve.
"I don't want to be the token naïve young person in
parliament. I need to be pragmatic. But I am really
optimistic."
He congratulates students, believing many of them to be
"really politically active"
"The 350 campaign was really successful, with 350 different
events happening around the country, and many of them were
organized by students."
As the interview wraps up I ask Hughes if he has a message
for students.
"There is a cool, growing Green movement happening. And it's
happening in places you can access like Facebook and Twitter.
"It's something you can be part of."
• Emily Menkes is a second-year student who writes for the
ODT. She is also a member of Campus Greens.
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