People become Green for different reasons, and there are many different "flavours" of Green. I became Green through my work as a policy analyst in central and local government and I see myself as Seriously Green.

Some of my professional roles have involved strategic planning and change management. These roles have required that I research issues such as climate change and oil depletion, social and economic transformations, and New Zealand's strengths and weaknesses in responding to them.

The more I researched the issues of climate change and Peak Oil (in particular), the more concerned I became that New Zealand is failing - at many levels - to acknowledge the seriousness of the problems we face or to deal with them effectively.

Only the Green Party has grasped the full magnitude of the challenges New Zealand will face in the 21st century. And the Green Party is leading the way in developing and implementing long-term solutions.

Being Seriously Green means taking a thoughtful and considered approach to the strategic challenges we face in the 21st Century and beyond. It means facing up to the reality of these challenges and taking action to respond to them. It means setting aside the divisive politics of the 20th century and working co-operatively for the common good. And it means focusing on issues and policies rather than personalities.

Being Seriously Green also means acknowledging that human beings don't like change. My favourite quote about change comes from Niccolò Machiavelli:

"It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them."
From The Prince (1513)

Being Seriously Green means taking a realistic and disciplined approach to bringing about social, cultural, environmental and economic change. We must be resilient, principled and mutually supportive if we are to succeed in securing a better future for humanity.