GREEN TOUCH

Dargaville's Community Garden Struck A Chord With MP Nandor Tanczos Who
Spent Time In Dargaville.

Wearing his trademark hemp jeans and knee length dreadlocks the
controversial Greens MP, visited the gardens where he planted a kauri under
the guidance of manager Jodie Findlay who insisted he dig a large hole in
the sticky clay and carefully tamp round the roots by hand.

But despite that experience he found the project "amazing." "They will be
stunning and it is a way of bringing all levels of the community together
and gives a sense of belonging," he told D and D News later.

"Often it is a sense of alienation which leads to vandalism and crime."

This, he said fitted well with the Green's policy on justice aimed at
keeping people out of prisons except to protect the community.

"We need to focus on rehabilitation and education to stop offending. In
prison people just learn to be real criminals."

Despite the stand-off over GM Nandor believed Greens could work with a
Labour Government on other issues.

And he refuted claims of "the tail trying to wag the dog."

"A survey found that 92 per cent of New Zealanders want GE kept in the lab.

It's one of those things where there is no going back."

He denied claims that release of a book claiming a cover-up over GE corn was
a Greens inspired election ploy.

"We didn't know about it in advance and we would have timed it differently."

Looking back on his first term the MP described parliament, particularly
select committee work, as a means of making change.

"But I have been amazed at some of the petty things going on when there are
real issue to be solved."

If offered a cabinet position he would prefer justice or youth affairs, but
in reality would like another term as a backbencher.

The hemp advocate enthuses about it being the strongest natural fibre known
and insists it contains so little hallucinogen that there is no chance of it
adding an alternative source of marijuana.

"It has incredible economic potential and many uses, including paper where
it is much less toxic to produce."

On Cannabis - Moves in UK and the rest of the world to decriminalise it will
to flow on - The Greens policy - Leave adults who use it responsibly alone,
restrict access to young people and target those supplying to young people.