Anton Oliver

Wellington, March 10 NZPA - Political parties scrummaged to sign Anton Oliver up to their ranks but the former All Black prefers to remain on the sidelines for now.

The Otago Daily Times reported that Oliver had been approached by National and Labour Party representatives. He was interested in politics but felt he lacked work experience and is flying to London next week for job interviews at banks and energy companies.

Oliver has strong views about green issues but says politically he is "economically right and socially left".

Oliver returned to New Zealand last year to care for his Blenheim-based mother who was battling breast cancer.

He was stunned by the proliferation of dairy farms throughout the South Island and did not think intensive dairy farming was the answer to future prosperity.

"It is not good for our image. New Zealanders are living in this fictional world where we are clean and green ... we aren't."

While praising the country's farmers as being "innovative" and excelling in a competitive global market with no subsidies, he called into question their right to water.

"Water is there for all of us."

The Oxford University graduate with a masters in environmental policy opposed the proposed Project Hayes windfarm.