Meet the Green Party's new MP

GARETH HUGHES: At 28 years old, the Green MP will be the youngest representative in parliament.

PROTEST PAST: New Green Party MP Gareth Hughes was arrested while dressed as Ronald McDonald in a protest over genetically modified chicken feed.

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A man once arrested while dressed up as Ronald McDonald is to be the Green Party's new MP in Parliament.

The youngest MP at 28-years-old, Gareth Hughes will take outgoing MP and former party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons' spot in Parliament.

Today Ms Fitzsimons said if she were to offer him any advice it would be to prioritise.

"Don't let yourself get so bogged down in the detail that you never get home at night."

Mr Hughes said that won't be a problem.

"For the last year I've been up in Auckland and my family's been in Wellington so ironically, unlike most members of Parliament, I'll be seeing more of my family."

Mr Hughes will live in the inner city with wife Meghan and son Arlo and plans to walk to work.

Entering Parliament mid-election cycle was no risk, Mr Hughes said. He was confident the Greens would be back with at least their nine current seats in 2010.

"It's an absolute privilege, I am absolutely stoked to be in there and I am going to make the most of the next two years and longer if it pans out that way."

At the last election Mr Hughes made a big impact in Ohariu in Wellington where he campaigned for the party vote.

"I had great fun in the Ohariu electorate and we got a great party vote there."

Mr Hughes has worked for Greenpeace, most recently coordinating its Sign On campaign seeking greater action on climate change.

Originally from Gisborne, he went to Victoria University where he studied religious studies and history. While a student he became a vegetarian and got into environmental campaigning. In his time with Greenpeace New Zealand and Australia he held various roles and took part in activist campaigns.

One campaign - against the use of genetically engineered chicken feed - saw him arrested while dressed up as Ronald McDonald. He has sailed on the Rainbow Warrior and was part of the campaign to ban bottom trawling in international waters, and unfurled a protest banner in Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

He was involved in the Save Happy Valley campaign and attended the Nairobi conference of the Global Young Greens, was part of the Students of Aotearoa network for the Environment and Eco Action.

In Parliament Mr Hughes wants to focus on transport, climate change and tertiary education.

- NZPA