Rocky Road

RIFF RAFF FAN: Green Party co-leader Rod Donald checks out Hamilton's statue in Victoria St. (KELLY SCHICKER/Waikato Times)

Source: http://stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,3375756a6579,00.html

12 August 2005
By GEOFF TAYLOR

The city's Riff Raff statue makes Hamilton the "cult capital" of New Zealand, according to Rocky Horror fan and Greens co-leader Rod Donald.

Mr Donald's visit to the statue as part of a whistlestop nationwide tour wasn't a coincidence as the Greens have a distinct link to the statue.

Former Hamiltonian Mark Servian, who proposed the idea, is now media officer for the Green Party in Wellington.

"Mark told me that if I was coming to Hamilton then one thing I just had to do was visit Riff Raff," said Mr Donald.

He described the statue as stunning and added that the Greens had sometimes used Rocky Horror shows as fundraisers.

"Certainly it's changed the attitude of some people to this town.

"It makes it the cult capital of New Zealand I would say," he said.

Mr Donald said he regarded the Greens' poll ratings, which hover round the all important five per cent mark, as a challenge.

"It has certainly focussed the minds.

"If people want a Labour Government implementing progressive policies, it won't happen without us."

Mr Donald said he hoped that with Labour now back ahead of National in the polls, Green supporters who may have switched to Labour to bolster its support might "come home again".

"A party vote for the Greens guarantees a Labour-led Government. A party vote for Labour may deliver Helen Clark into Winston's arms."

Mr Donald spoke at a business forum at Gallaghers on Wednesday and yesterday visited Ullrich Alluminium and Convex Plastics, which makes plastics from biodegradable resources.