Taranaki Regional Council
candidacy statement for Rusty Kane.
I am standing as your representative for the Taranaki Regional Council to be accountable for the region's social economic and environmental well-being. If elected I will be supporting the TRC working closely and in full transparency with the region's farmers iwi and industry together with central and local government for the betterment of our region. I will work hard as your councillor to insure rates are fair and equitable and ratepayers are getting the best value for their rates. I will be supporting sustainable growth and commercial developments that maintain and support a good strong balanced Taranaki economy, with good roads and public transport. I will also work hard to improve your region's air land and water quality for an overall healthy environment in which to live work and play, now and for future generations. I am now asking for your vote of support for my candidacy as a Taranaki Regional Councillor.
Rusty Kane
Your candidate for Regional Health and Environment.
Rusty Kane
ReplyDeleteRusty Kane. Born December 2, 1953.
Rusty Kane is a New Zealand advocate for local democracy. Kane has campaigned for the advantages of having independent political representation instead of MPs who are affiliated with major political parties.
His tenacity for this cause, including standing (more than ten times) for election for central government, regional and district councils, and the district health board earned Kane the epithets: Mr tenacious and a stickler for democratic transparency.
Kane with Doug Wilson collect 52,000 signatures as part of Wilson’s 1998 protest walk to Parliament, seeking the removal of the Government. This instigated them forming of The People’s Choice Party in 1999 (Taranaki’s first ever registered political party and NZ’s 21st political party).
Under the People’s Choice banner starting in 1999 until 2022 Rusty stood unsuccessfully in ten elections. The People’s Choice Party was also the first political party to oppose the MMP system of Government. Again in the 2009 Mt Albert by-election Kane campaigned that Citizens initiated Referendums should be binding on the government.
In the 2002 elections, Kane stood as an independent in the Taranaki-King Country seat, and was one of six candidates in the Te Tai Hauauru by-election in 2004.
Mr Kane said: “It’s not about winning. Campaigning is a cost effective way of raising awareness for the efficacy of having an independent Member of Parliament that is not affiliated with a major political party. An independent MP provides better political leverage. As an independent MP is not controlled or beholden to any of the major political parties.”
“Independent candidates don’t have to tow the party line.”
The People’s Choice Party (which de-registered in 2003) was the first political party to field a Pakeha candidate in a Maori Ward (Te Tai Hauauru seat). In 2005 Kane stood in the New Plymouth electorate against Labour incumbent Harry Dyunhoven despite him having the biggest majority in the country. And in the 2008 election he helped National Party candidate Jonathan Young defeat Harry Dyunhoven.
Rusty Kane has strong community ties, particularly in Taranaki. He was part of the Waitara Lease Holders Association from 2004-10. A founding member of C.E.P.R.A (Chemically Exposed Paritutu Residents Association) who helped former power station employees and harbour board workers get free medical health care. He was also part of the Taranaki Dioxin Advisory Group.
Rusty is also an artist and has had several exhibitions including his controversial exhibition “Hands On” in 2006 at the Pune Ariki library foyer, and “Seven Beds and Fourteen Heads.” These exhibitions courted controversy as they were political referencing dioxin contamination.