Lisa’s Hummus founder takes up Green Party politics

 

From a bag of chickpeas and a food processor to a political nomination: it has been an interesting road for Lisa Er, founder of Lisa’s Hummus turned Green Party candidate.

 “When I was six my brother got leukaemia, which was caused by radiation drifting over the [UK] village we were living in from nuclear tests on an island in the Atlantic,” she says.

When two-year-old Howard died from the disease, her parents became activists working with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Subsequently Lisa became interested in politics at a young age.

At her Titirangi home she drinks herbal tea and talks about her perspective on life.

Scattered across the walls are inspirational messages, urging happiness, kindness and peace.

“The planet is in a mess and something needs to be done about it,” she says.

Er moved to New Zealand with her parents and two brothers in 1967, when she was 16. In 1983 Er, who was by then a teacher, formed the Waiatarua Nuclear Free Group.

“I began in my home, and as we grew, we moved to my classroom, and ultimately joined up with the Henderson branch to become the West Auckland branch.”

She has been a devoted Greens supporter for many years but did not join the party until 18 months ago.

Er says it was her involvement with Lisa’s Hummus and strong commitment within her business to “social justice, environmental concerns and a view on safe foods”  which really stoked her passion. 

She is now standing as the Mt Roskill Green Party candidate against MP Phil Goff.

It all began with the start of Lisa’s Hummus, now Lisa’s Healthy Foods Ltd, in 1992. 

 “Open, honest relationships with staff and stakeholders in a business are imperative, as is visibility and accountability,” she says.

Er was a teacher for 14 years before starting her business from scratch in her kitchen, but did not have any dreams of creating a large company.

At the time it was simply about survival. Her then husband, who was Turkish, left her and their three young sons. She had to survive on $19,000 a year.

“I called myself a necessity entrepreneur back then,” she laughs, sipping her tea.

“I had to succeed to make sure I could feed the family.”

In the beginning Er was working by herself, selling her home-made hummus to the local health food shop and staff at the high school where she taught one day a week. 

By 2002, when she sold her company to Sanitarium because she was “burnt out and had no time to relax”, it had expanded to 29 staff and had an annual turnover of $5 million.

She was ASB Bank business-woman of the year for Auckland in 2000, and the North Island Her Business businesswoman of the year for 2001- 2002.

Er believes her success is because her product was healthy. It suited vegetarians and people who wanted low-fat food.

As a passionate genetic engineering opponent she ensured her product was GE-free and as a Green Party candidate she works hard to make sure New Zealand is the same. 

 “I don’t think our scientists know enough to play around with genetics. We should stay away from it.”

Her soft voice becomes stronger as she says New Zealand imports too much, which leads to higher food prices.

“I think we should be growing our own food. Seventy five per cent of grains are imported into New Zealand. There is no need for it.

 “We need to grow more of our stuff in New Zealand.”

She says another reason for high food costs is that people are eating fruit and vegetables out of season.

“To make food cheaper we should be prepared to eat food in season.”

She says nobody but the Green Party is looking beyond the three-year electoral cycle. 

Er admits to being on a steep learning curve.

“[The Green Party] wants to leave the planet in a better state than it is now for our children and our children’s children. It is not just about today, but also about tomorrow,” she says.

In the upcoming election, Er’s main priority is to increase Auckland’s Green vote overall so the party stays in Parliament for the next term.

She refuses to comment on Mt Roskill’s current MP Goff and other candidates standing against her in one of New Zealand’s most ethnically diverse electorates.

“I am asking for people to give the Greens their party vote, and if they can give a second vote to the party candidate, then I am happy to have that.”

She was a member of Diversity Trust, which provides migrants and refugees with a range of services, and has been involved with New Zealand’s Turkish community.

The welfare of new immigrants is one of her passions.

“I think immigrants in New Zealand are not necessarily well represented and well understood by people. 

“I think it is very important that we integrate as a society and don’t think that we are just bi-cultural. We are no longer just a Maori and Pakeha country,” she says. 

Er also feels strongly about promoting healthy eating at schools and wants to stop the sale of fizzy and sugary drinks, lollies and chips on school property.

“It is a Green Party policy to have fruit in school and I think milk would be a good idea too.”

Even if she fails to get elected, Er hopes her candidacy can lead to change.

“I want to make a difference in this country. 

“I would like to see a strong food strategy in place, and strengthen communities in order to cope with possible future problems like peak oil and food prices and availability, and climate change.”