Our hearts should be terribly heavy today.
The former co-leader of the Greens, a great moral leader of our age, Jeanette Fitzsimons has died.
It is difficult to over estimate her influence and impact on not only New Zealand politics, but our culture as well.
She forged a new leadership for women, she defined a completely different set of values for public discourse and humanity between people.
Her basic decency was a new benchmark for how humility in power couldn’t be corrupted.
She was a role model for anyone with progressive politics and standard civility.
She had a dignity and grace that showed a rare righteousness that was never blighted by arrogance.
We are a lesser political body with her passing.
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Rest in peace Jeanette.
Jeanette Fitzsimons lived her principled life through her green convictions. She and co leader Rod Donald were hugely influencial in guiding the NZ Green Party into mainstream acceptance. A very sad loss for the environment and NZ.
RIP Jeanette.
+100 mary_ a
Jeanette Fitzsimons – You stood above the rest with a good, wise and practical message and from such a very pleasant, charismatic person. Thank you Jeanette and the family and supporters behind her enabling her to get out among us and help us to see her vision and those of her collaborators in the Green Party. We needed then and now that vision of a principled and possible way forward into the increasingly difficult future for humankind and our parent planet.
“Yesterday morning she was out on the farm doing stuff, she had a bit of a fall and finally ended up in Thames Hospital where she had a massive stroke and died at 9.45pm last night – very peacefully I might add.”
“The day before, she was using a chainsaw – that’s the sort of person she is. She worked a lot harder than I ever did. I was totally in awe of her.
“Fortunately we both had very much the same convictions about what needed changing in the planet and we had a very close relationship.” Harry Parke, speaking on RNZ
I am truly saddened by Jeanette’s passing. A role model, a real achiever and an example to all NZ politicians of what can be attained through principled action ,values and belief. The only NZ politician I have ever admired.
She was a far cry from the crazy woke imbeciles that currently have the keys to the green party.
yes 100%
Jay If you care about the Greens you wouldn’t strike a blow at them for not measuring up to your ideals. If you had worked for them much and seen that they have changed and not for the better you think, you wouldn’t run them down in public. So I take it that you find it easier to criticise than help in a positive way. Don’t run them down, they are all we have on the green side, and they are needed. They want to be close to power enough to be a thorn in government’s side and maybe instigate new environmental policies often and repeatedly. So wish them well, not wish them to hell and do more to help with the energy you save from getting publicly aggrieved. It is what Jeanette would have wanted you to do!
(And i often feel the same as you, and will try to follow my own advice.)
So because they used to be dedicated to a just cause they are beyond criticism?
Sounds rather Stalinist to me.
Just so my position is clear, unless the Green party changes its way (which it won’t) then I hope it gets swept from parliament at the next election.
They are worse than useless. They are dangerous.
Her environmentalism was never about individualism but based on a recognition the issues facing the planet are so great only collective & state-backed action will make the difference. Rest easy Jeanette ~ Andrew Little on Twitter
Very sorry , not time.
Jeanette was the real heart of the Greens back when they had a heart.
D J S
RIP
A very bright star has gone out in a murky sky .
RIP
I had the great privilege of not only knowing her but working with her. There is not a Green MP is fit to walk in her shoes.
The only politician that I know of who truly walked the talk. Not only was she a great Green parliamentarian but when she left she continued her activism in Coal Action and other areas. A huge loss to the wonderful Harry Parke, her two sons, daughter-in-laws and two grandchildren. And of course Harry’s family.
And a great loss to Aotearoa.
“It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.”
Steinbeck
Lol
This Lol refers to Denny not Jeannette…and a very sharp comment he made too….about the present Gweenies
Inappropriate comment Denny Paoa
Both comments absolutely offensive.
A truly wonderful person. Well said MB.
Arohanui Jeanette Fitzsimmons…one of the Boomers
A truly remarkable and special New Zealander who i have always respected
Go in peace Jeannette.
If only we had all followed her environmentally sound ways. A truly kind and caring member of humanity and boy could she make the most wonderful Lentil Soup.
Rest in Peace Jeanette – Arohanui.
RIP Jeanette, the country needs more genuine good people like you.
My condolences to family.
Marama’s tribute:
“I was privileged to know Jeanette once I became an MP and then co-leader. I leaned on her mana as a rangatira of the Green Party, she helped guide my thoughts and affirm what my role is as co-leader,” Davidson said.
Davidson said Fitzsimons was what she calls “a taonga of the green movement”.
“Jeanette leaves behind a remarkable legacy. She brought the climate change conversation into Parliament, and had transformative ideas around greening our electricity sector.
“She was the leading voice for a new compassionate, ecologically sustainable economics that has influenced the Government’s new wellbeing approach.
“She fought for what she believed in right until the end, refusing to retire, she once said ‘retirement is not really a concept I can imagine.’ I will miss her dearly”. From Stuff
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