Political career
Brunt became politically active and formed the environmentalist Values Party in the early 1970s and served as its inaugural leader. He founded the party to serve as a response to the "barren and miniaturist" political culture that existed in New Zealand at the time. [4] Then aged 25,Brunt was the youngest leader of a political party in New Zealand history. [5] He went on to contest the Wellington electorate of Island Bay at the 1972 election,where he placed third out of six candidates,gaining 7.6% of the vote.
Two years later,he stood for the Wellington mayoralty and City Council on a Values ticket. He placed third for mayor but was easily elected to the council. Brunt's candidacy for the mayoralty was viewed as having drawn away many left-wing voters from the Labour Party. Labour mayor Frank Kitts lost office in a very close race and blamed the Values vote for his defeat. [7] In 1977 he again stood for both positions and was again elected only as a councillor,topping the poll with more votes than any other candidate. [8] Brunt opposed extending the Wellington Urban Motorway to the foot of Mount Victoria. [9] While he was a member of the Council,Brunt was also employed by the Commission for the Environment as an investigating officer. [10] He did not stand for re-election in 1980.
