Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2005
Source: Waikato Times ( New Zealand )
Copyright: 2005 Independent Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/486
Author: Simon O'rourke And Nzpa

PARTY SLIDE DISAPPOINTS TANCZOS

Nandor Tanczos denies his demotion in the Greens ranking is because members 
see him as a one-issue MP.

The Greens list, out yesterday, has the cannabis-supporting dreadlocked MP 
at number seven - down from number four at the last election.

The Rastafarian MP, who lives with his partner and daughter in Hamilton, 
admitted the list placing had slightly dented his pride.

"Everyone's entitled to a little bit of ego, aren't they?" Mr Tanczos said.

"I guess the way I think about it is that it's not so much a demotion for 
me, but more a promotion for Metiria ( Turei ) and Keith Locke, who have 
both done a fantastic job.

"I think they deserved it."

Did he think the membership perceived him as running a "one-issue crusade", 
promoting the liberalisation of drug laws?

"I don't think that's how the membership feel," he said.

"They are more aware of the range of issues I've worked on.

"The majority of my work falls in the constitutional and justice areas." 
The narrow focus on drugs and cannabis was more a media perception, Mr 
Tanczos said.

"But that's the way it goes."

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said the clean sweep of the party's 
top rankings by sitting MPs reflected their strong performance,

Ms Fitzsimons, listed at number one, will square off for the Coromandel 
seat against incumbent National MP Sandra Goudie.

The Green Party has nine MPs at present, and eight of them fill the first 
eight places on the top-rankings list.

The missing MP is Ian Ewen-Street, who is not standing for re-election.

The ninth spot goes to conservation activist Catherine Delahunty.

The Greens' list is decided by voting by all its party members.

Ms Fitzsimons said she believed the high placings of sitting MPs was a 
strong vote of confidence in their performance.

"This is where the members put them, and I guess what this means is a big 
vote of confidence by the membership of the Greens in their sitting MPs."

MPs Sue Kedgley, Keith Locke and Metiria Turei all moved up to placings 
ahead of Mr Tanczos.

The leading names on the list are: Jeanette Fitzsimons ( Thames ) 1, Rod 
Donald ( Christchurch ) 2, Sue Bradford ( Kaitaia ) 3, Sue Kedgley ( 
Wellington ) 4, Keith Locke ( Auckland ) 5, Metiria Turei ( Dunedin ) 6, 
Nandor Tanczos ( Hamilton ) 7, Mike Ward ( Nelson ) 8, Catherine Delahunty 
( Gisborne ) 9, Russell Norman ( Wellington )10.   
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth