The Greens have become "The Browns", muddying the water with backwards welfare comments and bad attitudes.

Environmental issues are my number one voting driver this election, but I can't stand our "environment party", let alone consider a vote for them. For someone who loves the environment so much, that’s not right. So what’s gone so wrong?



In short, they’ve become "The Browns", muddying the waters with their backwards welfare comments, e.g. removing benefit restrictions on alcohol and tobacco spending (a giant step backwards for child-kind), and bad attitudes, e.g. Metiria Turei's lack of honesty, apology, remorse, and promise of repayment.



This muddying of policies has had two major effects on their support:

1. It takes oxygen away from environmental policies and their number one mission – a healthy planet.



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2. It gets votes from the far left, but alienates environment lovers from the centre-left, centre, centre-right, and right of the political spectrum. In other words - the majority of voters apart from the four to six per cent they are currently polling.

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I understand the current Green Party movement believes environmentalism and "social justice" go together, but why? Why does a vote for the environment have to also be a vote for the far left?

It’s far from a match made in heaven. In fact, it looks more like a miserable marriage where both sides would be far happier on their own – an Environmental Party and a Beneficiary Party each representing their voter segments.

Going a step further, their positioning on these two issues is arguably in direct conflict with one another. No matter your background, four things generally hold true the more knowledgeable you become:

THE GREEN PARTY The Greens' brilliant campaign in 2008 which focused on the future of children within our natural environment.

1. You become more empathetic towards environmental issues.



2. You are more likely to be employed or self-employed.



3. You are more likely to have essential needs sorted; therefore, the environment can become more of a priority.



4. You are more likely to be in a position of power to do something about it.



All decently educated and employed Kiwis also support a welfare system and rapid reduction in poverty, but not the way the Greens see it.

Most people see social welfare as a privilege and not a right (many countries don't have a welfare system at all). A short-term safety net, not a long-term way of life. A hand-up and not a handout. Ultimately, Kiwis helping fellow Kiwis to get back on their feet as soon as they're able, and looking after the minority that won’t ever be able to.

Also, most people desperately want to reduce poverty, but rather than reactive tax increases and more welfare, the majority want to proactively fix the root causes, like our appalling GDP per capita compared to similar Western countries.

KEVIN STENT/STUFF James Shaw has done a pretty good job of burying the welfare sideshow and fighting for the environment again.

In short, most Kiwis want a far cleaner environment, but don't support a far left socialist/nanny state.

To his credit, James Shaw has done a pretty good job of using Turei's exit to bury the welfare sideshow and make the fight for the environment again. The problem is, Turei showed us the Greens' true colours.

Dig a little deeper, and you’ll see other backwards economic policies like a new top income tax rate of 40 per cent even though someone on $150,000 already contributes five times more income tax than someone on $50,000 ($40,000 vs. $8,000. See IRD Income Tax Calculator).

If the Green Party want to stay the beneficiary/environmental party in opposition for nine years at a time then that's fine, and that's their choice, but they need to re-brand; otherwise, it's false advertising.

If, however, they want to return to 10 to15 per cent support and be part of a coalition government that has more say for our planet, then they need to be true to their name.

The country is screaming out for a more centrist environmental party, and if one had existed this election, then it would easily get five per cent support and be the death knell of the Greens. In fact, it would probably also take five per cent off National, five per cent off Labour, and five per cent from the minor parties.

In total, a green party that is neither left or right would probably get 20 to 25 per cent of the vote. It is inevitable with the way the world is going. We already see it overseas with right-leaning politicians like Boris Johnson taking strong environmental stances.

Which brings me to my final point.

I have voted for National more than any other party, but I am far from happy with their environmental performance. For a "100% Pure" country, our waterways are a disgrace, and our carbon emissions targets are embarrassing.

Labour, are no better. After doing little in opposition for nine years, Labour launched their campaign by stealing the Green's three major policies – climate change, waterways and poverty (talk about "eating your greens!").

If you think Labour will shift the environmental needle far enough or take a fair approach for all Kiwis, you’re dreaming. All Jacinda Ardern wants to do is target farmers, and ignore the huge environmental damage 100,000 more humans in our urban centres are causing each year. That’s a lot of new poo.

Many argue that we need the Green Party in Government. I disagree. We absolutely need humans representing a planet that doesn’t get to vote, but that doesn’t have to be the Green Party. They’ve let New Zealand down and the time is right for a new movement to displace them.

Until that new party comes along, my challenge to the Greens this election is simple:

1. Show us progressive economic strategies beyond just playing Robin Hood.

2. Create proactive solutions that fix the root causes of poverty, not just more reactive tax and welfare.

3. Stop muddying the waters and start focusing on how to clean them up!