Roland Sapsford
Encyclopedia
Roland Sapsford is the current male co-convenor (organisational president) of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
. The female co-convenor is Georgina Morrison. Sapsford was elected co-convenor in a contested election at the Green Party AGM in 2006, at the same time as the current male co-leader Russel Norman
.
Sapsford was a candidate for the Greens in the 2005
and 2002
General Elections and was their campaign co-manager in their first successful bid to enter the New Zealand Parliament in 1999
. Over the period 2000-2005 he worked for the Green Party in the New Zealand Parliament and was credited by the right-wing ACT New Zealand party as having a major influence over sustainable transport legislation enacted during that time. Prior to becoming campaign co-manager in 1999, Sapsford was the Green Party's national policy convenor from 1996-1999. He first joined the Green Party in 1993.
Outside of the Green Party, Sapsford has a long history of local activism; an early example being his efforts to form a secondary school students union in the early 1980s. During the 1990s he was spokesperson and convenor of Campaign for a Better City (CBC) which, from 1994 to 2004, led a prolonged and highly popular but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to halt the construction of a major road through the historic Te Aro area of Wellington City. He was active in the creation of the brief Heartbeat Wellington campaign in 2005, which successfully opposed the introduction of a V8 Streetcar race in Wellington, and Option3 in 2006, which advocated for sustainable transport solutions in the Wellington region. Sapsford was also co-chair of the Aro Valley Community Council for many years until 2008, when he retired from this role. He remains a Trustee of the Te Aro Heritage Trust.
Political opponents of the Greens generally attack Sapsford's style rather than his ideas, as illustrated by the comments from ACT above. Another example from 2005 saw National Party blogger David Farrar attack Sapsford's general demeanor and approach towards a business transport forum rather than refute his arguments. Sapsford was the lead researcher for the Greens in Parliament on drug policy and produced a submission supporting the Party's policy on the normalisation of cannabis use
Roland Sapsford lives in the Aro Valley, a suburb of Wellington City.
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
. The female co-convenor is Georgina Morrison. Sapsford was elected co-convenor in a contested election at the Green Party AGM in 2006, at the same time as the current male co-leader Russel Norman
Russel Norman
Dr Russel William Norman is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party alongside Metiria Turei.- Early life :...
.
Sapsford was a candidate for the Greens in the 2005
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
and 2002
New Zealand general election, 2002
The 2002 New Zealand general election was held on 27 July 2002 to determine the composition of the 47th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the reelection of Helen Clark's Labour Party government, as well as the worst-ever performance by the opposition National Party.Arguably the most controversial...
General Elections and was their campaign co-manager in their first successful bid to enter the New Zealand Parliament in 1999
New Zealand general election, 1999
The 1999 New Zealand general election was held on 27 November 1999 to determine the composition of the 46th New Zealand Parliament. The governing National Party, led by Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, was defeated, being replaced by a coalition of Helen Clark's Labour Party and the smaller Alliance...
. Over the period 2000-2005 he worked for the Green Party in the New Zealand Parliament and was credited by the right-wing ACT New Zealand party as having a major influence over sustainable transport legislation enacted during that time. Prior to becoming campaign co-manager in 1999, Sapsford was the Green Party's national policy convenor from 1996-1999. He first joined the Green Party in 1993.
Outside of the Green Party, Sapsford has a long history of local activism; an early example being his efforts to form a secondary school students union in the early 1980s. During the 1990s he was spokesperson and convenor of Campaign for a Better City (CBC) which, from 1994 to 2004, led a prolonged and highly popular but ultimately unsuccessful campaign to halt the construction of a major road through the historic Te Aro area of Wellington City. He was active in the creation of the brief Heartbeat Wellington campaign in 2005, which successfully opposed the introduction of a V8 Streetcar race in Wellington, and Option3 in 2006, which advocated for sustainable transport solutions in the Wellington region. Sapsford was also co-chair of the Aro Valley Community Council for many years until 2008, when he retired from this role. He remains a Trustee of the Te Aro Heritage Trust.
Political opponents of the Greens generally attack Sapsford's style rather than his ideas, as illustrated by the comments from ACT above. Another example from 2005 saw National Party blogger David Farrar attack Sapsford's general demeanor and approach towards a business transport forum rather than refute his arguments. Sapsford was the lead researcher for the Greens in Parliament on drug policy and produced a submission supporting the Party's policy on the normalisation of cannabis use
Roland Sapsford lives in the Aro Valley, a suburb of Wellington City.