A Rather Lovely Odd Poppy

Mike Ward is a self-confessed "odd poppy". Keen on doing his bit to help out the planet Mike gets about his home town of Nelson on a low-riding trike - and has pedalled his way from the tip of the North to the bottom of the South Island.

Although in his mid-sixties Mike has also competed in the epic Coast to Coast adventure race every year since its inception twenty-six years ago.

Mike was inducted into Parliament as a Green Party MP in 2002 and continued during this time to fashion frivolous festoonery (or jewellery) for sale at the market place. When Mike lost his seat in Parliament the same year that he won the Supreme Award for his entry to the Montana World of Wearable Arts he shrugged and jovially asserted that 'you win some, you lose some'.

Mike was also hoping to add a new title to this eclectic CV - Mayor of Nelson. Melody Thomas lunches at his studio and accompanies him to the local market.