Kevin is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the West Coast District Health Board, a position he has held for almost three years. Previously he was Research Officer for the New Zealand AIDS Foundation from 1988-1993, and the Foundation's Executive Director from 1998-2003.
He was involved in the Homosexual Law Reform campaign in the 1980s but was particularly associated with the fight against HIV/AIDS and the long-running and eventually successful campaign for anti-discrimination legislation and human rights reform. He was also the co-chair (and co-organiser) of the 1989 landmark National Gay and Lesbian Conference, was one of the organisers of the first Hero Party, helped edit Terry Stewart's book "Invisible Families" (helping families come to terms with and support a lesbian daughter or gay son) and led the successful campaign to shut down the Auckland Star, following homophobic editorials attacking a lesbian and gay youth group.
He said today that he was honoured and excited to have achieved such a high list placing in the list ranking process, in which all members of the Green Party vote for their preferred list, and these are then combined using the STV method.
"I have a strong personal commitment to the Green Party's principles, including real environmental sustainability with fairness and social justice, and feel that more than ever New Zealand needs a strong Green Party presence in Parliament to work for these principles, as the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and the end of cheap oil begin to bite."
"It is nonsensical to suggest that these urgent and grave issues can be effectively tackled without making fundamental changes to the way we live, and I'm pleased to say that the Green Party does not shirk from this honest message."
Kevin has a strong background in Government, community and business, and is very experienced in the health sector, environment and conservation and in both national and international human rights and justice issues.
Kevin said that the Green Party's absolute commitment to social justice and celebrating diversity should strike the right chords for GLBT communities, who had an intimate understanding of the effects of marginalisation, difference and prejudice.
"Many of the big legislative reforms that we worked so hard for have been won, but the reality is still that for a young person coming out, a stigmatising social environment still exists, and we have to change that. The Green Party's record on our issues is second to none, and I look forward with interest to see what ranking other political parties will give their rainbow candidates - if they have any."
