Whale Rider actor to stand for Greens

STUFF.CO.NZ: Actor Rawiri Paratene is standing as the Green Party candidate for Maungakiekie in the November election.

Paratene, who played Koro in Whale Rider and has been a familiar figure on stage and screen since presenting TV's Play School over 30 years ago, said he aimed to help encourage the party vote for the Greens and had no intention to enter Parliament.

"My message to people is to party vote Green, I say to people `Vote for your kids and your grandchildren – they will thank you for it," he said.

He is not on the party list.