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Issue #7 | E whitu rerenga
Your local newspaper published by the Valley Project SEPTEMBER | HEPETEMA 2023
COLOURING THE VALLEY GREEN PARTY MEMBERS VISIT THE PROJECT The 2023 General Election hype is well and truly underway with less than a month to go until voting commences October 2nd. Just before campaigning picked up pace, Otago Regional Councillor Alan Somerville was expeditious in coordinating an opportunity for the Valley Project to meet face-to-face with Green MP, Eugenie Sage, and Dunedin candidate, Francisco Hernandez. We were honoured by their eagerness to become acquainted with The Valley Project, and looked forward to hearing their perspectives. We had prepared ourselves with various questions to ask Eugenie and Francisco, both of our own and those collected from community members. Unexpectedly, they had plenty for us, too! Their interest in and knowledge of the Valley Project was humbling and appreciated. Once we turned the attention onto Eugenie and Francisco, we started off easy with an enquiry into their favourite native animals! Kererū and kea were their replies, which will have delighted our former and present Biodiversity Coordinators! Valley Project staff meet Green Party members Eugenie Sage and Francisco Hernandez.
We next learned that Francisco's political beginnings stem from an anarchist project while serving as 2013 OUSA President. 'Food Not Bombs' was a food rescue and redistribution initiative as much as it was a pursuit of systematic change. The free weekly breakfasts he established for uni students continue to this day. He said it was empowering to institutionalise volunteer action, scale it up using political process, and bring voice to the people from the smallest level. Eugenie jokes that her obnoxious younger brothers are to thank for her political passions. (Continued on page #14...)
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