Editorial: Fitzsimons' subtle legacy

OPINION: When former Green Party leader Jeanette Fitzsimons signed off last week it marked the departure of one of the first intake of MMP members who changed the face of New Zealand politics.

But in her 13 years in Parliament Ms Fitzsimons did something more subtle and long term by changing the public's perception of the issues the Greens were set up to agitate on. The kindly faced and level-headed Ms Fitzsimons gradually brought what were once fringe matters like climate change and energy efficiency into the public consciousness while retaining the respect of MPs of all stripes and the public.

Despite the pull of the more extreme end of the Green movement, the party has largely shown itself to be a more stable and conscientious third party under Ms Fitzsimons' leadership than Winston Peters and his New Zealand First party. If a deal didn't meet her principles, Ms Fitzsimons said so. She also kept the Greens out of Government. Maybe that's why a 2008 poll labelled her the most trustworthy MP.

The Greens are far from achieving the kind of social and ecological utopia they want and, some would say, the country could not afford, but Ms Fitzsimons has enjoyed the sort of practical policy victories the party needed to come up with to be more than a constant chorus of doom.

The home insulation programme begun under Labour and continued with National is one example of where what was good for the environment will also, eventually, be good for the country's coffers in the form of energy savings.But there were limits to Ms Fitzsimons' appeal, as shown by her third placing in the Coromandel electorate in the 2002 general election.

She was never able to reclaim the seat, which reverted to its traditional conservative base as the electorate chastised an MP distracted by party leadership and ecological issues which did not touch all of her largely rural and conservative constituents.

There is some irony in Ms Fitzsimons leaving Parliament at a time when National's plans to explore national parks for mining could reignite the smouldering issue that once swung the electorate her way. The lack of success of many of her private member's bills showed the limits of Ms Fitzsimons' clout when outside the Government and, as most idealists-turned-politicians make clear in their valedictory remarks, she found Parliament a frustrating place. No doubt she feels much remains undone, but realises it's now up to co-leaders Russel Norman and Metiria Turei to show their mettle.

Ms Fitzsimons likely has plenty to do on her Kauaeranga Valley farm but such is her passion for the environment, and compassion, we may not have seen the last of her in public life. While we may not agree on everything she says, there's always room for the honesty and integrity she brings.

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