Friday, May 29, 2009
Rusty Kane
Rusty Kane is a New Zealand political candidate and activist. He is leader of the People's Choice Party, the first registered political party to come out of Taranaki and New Zealand 21st registered political party 1999 elections. Kane contested two elections under the People's Choice banner. The 1999 general election, standing against the MMP system. Again in the 2009 Mt Albert by-election, on Citizens Initiated Referendum's should be binding on the government. In the 2002 elections, Kane stood as an independent in the Taranaki-King Country seat, and he was also one of six candidates to contest the Te Tai Hauauru by-election in 2004. He campaign in Te Tai Hauauru was based on the abolition of the Maori seats. He then challenge New Plymouth MP Harry Duynhoven in the 2005 elections despite Duynhoven holding one of the largest majorities in the country. In the 2008 general election he helped Nationals local candidate Jonathan Young defeat Dyunhoven. Kane lives in New Plymouth. He is a strong advocate for the Waitara leaseholders fight to freehold Waitara land, help form the WLA (Waitara Leaseholders Association) as a steering committee member. And is a founding member of CEPRA (Chemically Exposed Paritutu Association) That helped chemically exposed residents get free healthcare. In resent years Rusty has campaigned as an Independent for New Plymouth promoting that New Plymouth should have its own Independent seat.(not a party seat). His views and comments have often featured in Taranaki regional news.
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Rusty Kane
Rusty 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.
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