Veteran Greens MP Hughes happy to represent Dunedin

Dunedin has a new MP now that long-serving Greens politician Gareth Hughes is resident in the city.

Mr Hughes, his wife and two children recently moved from their former home in Wellington to support a family member.

While the shift will make no difference to his already announced decision to retire from politics at the 2020 election, Mr Hughes said he was determined to be a strong local spokesman for the Green Party.

"I’m definitely retiring, but this is a region where we haven’t had an MP for a couple of years," he said.

"As well as moving for family reasons, there is definitely the advantage that I can be here to support the Green Party as well, so it is a win-win in that respect, coming to somewhere I wanted to live in and represent."

Dunedin North has for years been one of the Green Party’s highest polling electorates due to the high profile of former party co-leader Metiria Turei.

That vote dipped significantly after Ms Turei resigned as co-leader and list candidate and Mr Hughes said in his remaining months as an MP he would work to reinvigorate the party.

"I think we are in strong heart. There is a Green mayor, a Green councillor, Dunedin North is one of our top five electorates, so it is a priority for us," he said.

Although just 38, Mr Hughes is his party’s parliamentary veteran, having first been elected in 2010.

Chairman of the social services and community select committee, Mr Hughes’ various spokesman roles for the Greens include biosecurity, animal welfare, energy and resources, science and tourism.

When he steps down from Parliament, Mr Hughes plans to take a year’s sabbatical and sail around New Zealand with his family.

mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz