Green Party MP and Mt Albert candidate Ricardo Menéndez March will lead a team of volunteers on a doorknocking campaign in Wesley on Saturday, 2 May, to connect with the community and build support ahead of the next general election.
The event is the first of its kind for the campaign in Wesley, a suburb that has recently been included in the Mt Albert electorate following boundary changes. The party says the initiative is designed to inform residents of the change, learn about the local issues that matter most to them, and introduce Mr Menéndez March as the Green candidate.
The campaign team will gather at a local cafe at 12 pm before canvassing the neighbourhood until 2 pm. Data collected from conversations with residents will be used to shape the party's local strategy throughout the election cycle.
Electorate boundaries shift
The inclusion of Wesley brings a new dynamic to the Mt Albert electorate, which has long been considered a safe seat for the Labour Party. The electorate is a diverse urban area that stretches across a large swathe of central Auckland, encompassing the suburbs of Mt Albert, Ōwairaka, Point Chevalier, Waterview, Sandringham, Balmoral, Morningside, Western Springs, Kingsland, Eden Terrace, and Arch Hill. Similar issues have surfaced in Auckland, where court staff faced a contentious restructure.
Mr Menéndez March's campaign aims to build on what the party calls a "strong result in 2023" with a people-powered movement. By engaging directly with voters in areas like Wesley, the Greens hope to build a grassroots network strong enough to elect the electorate's first-ever Green local MP.
Mr Menéndez March, a second-term MP and former community organiser, says he is standing to be a "tireless, committed local representative that the communities across our electorate deserve in Parliament." As a Balmoral resident for 13 years, he says he understands the pressures facing local families.
I know people in our neighbourhoods are doing it tough, whether it's filling up the tank or buying new school uniforms. It doesn’t have to be this way. The Greens have a plan to ensure everyone has what they need to thrive.
A grassroots philosophy
The doorknocking event reflects the Green Party's long-standing commitment to grassroots democracy. This philosophy has been a core part of the Green movement's identity since its origins in the 1980s. The party structure was heavily influenced by the West German Greens, who popularised the 'Four Pillars' of ecology, social justice, grassroots democracy, and non-violence.
This "ground-up" approach, prioritising local and state-level organisations, empowers volunteers and ensures campaigns are strongly connected to the communities they seek to represent. According to the party, this direct community contact provides invaluable information that helps tailor its political platform to address specific local concerns. This can range from the cost of living, which affects residents searching for cheap eats and takeaways, to broader issues of transport and urban development.
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, guided by its own charter, continues this tradition of community-led activism. Mr Menéndez March's campaign emphasises this by stating it will be "out on the streets, campaigning across the electorate over the coming months, listening to local concerns and sharing our solutions."
How to get involved
The campaign is actively seeking volunteers to join the doorknocking day, stating that no prior experience is required and that full training will be provided on the day. The event is also framed as an opportunity for like-minded supporters to connect with one another.
Participants are advised to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. The exact meeting location is being kept private and will be sent directly to attendees after they RSVP on the Green Party website. The party has also issued a health notice, asking anyone who is feeling sick to stay home.
In his call for support, Mr Menéndez March frames the campaign as a community effort. "Mt Albert is my home, I love our vibrant, diverse and community-centred neighbourhoods," he says. "It would be my honour to represent you in the halls of power. Let's win this for our community."
