2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election
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February–March 2024
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| Turnout | 171 delegates | ||||||||||||
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The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand held an election for the position of co-leader of the party in March 2024, following the resignation of James Shaw. Incumbent MP Chlöe Swarbrick and Dunedin-based activist Alex Foulkes were the only two candidates.
Swarbrick was elected almost unanimously, receiving 169 votes out of the total 171; Foulkes receives no votes.
Background
James Shaw was elected as co-leader of the Greens in 2015, initially serving alongside Metiria Turei until her resignation in 2017. This lead him to serve as sole co-leader during the 2017 general election period, following which the party ended up in government through a confidence and supply agreement with the Labour Party; Shaw would serve as Minister of Climate Change as part of that agreement. He would be joined soon after by Marama Davidson as co-leader. That co-leadership team lead the party in the 2020 and 2023 general elections. Following the latter, Shaw announced his intention to resign as co-leader. He said he felt his time in parliament was done, following the ousting of the Labour government the party had supported.[1]
Electoral process
Nominations for the election opened on 31 January and closed on 14 February 2024.[2] Party members hold local meetings that decide how each branch will vote, with each branch getting an amount of votes proportional to the number of members who live in the electorate they represent.[3]
Candidate requirements
Prior to May 2022, it had been required by the party's constitution that one co-leader of the party be male and one be female; this was changed such that now it was only required that one co-leader be female. There was also the additional requirement added that one co-leader be Māori. As Marama Davidson (the other incumbent co-leader) fulfilled both requirements, any member of the party was able to run for the position in this election. Co-leaders are not required to be sitting members of parliament.[3]
Candidates
Declared
| Candidate | Electorate | Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
Alex Foulkes | outside parliament | Dunedin-based activist and conservationist.[4][5] |
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|
Chlöe Swarbrick | Auckland Central | Incumbent electorate MP.[6] |
Declined to be candidates
- Steve Abel, list MP[7]
- Julie Anne Genter, MP for Rongotai[8][9]
- Francisco Hernandez, candidate in the 2023 general election[10]
- Ricardo Menéndez March, list MP[11]
- Tamatha Paul, MP for Wellington Central[12]
- Teanau Tuiono, list MP[13]
Results
Results were announced by the Green Party on 10 March 2024.
| Candidate | Vote | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlöe Swarbrick | 169 | 98.83 | |
| Alex Foulkes | 0 | 0.00 | |
| Re-open nominations | 2 | 1.17 | |
| Total delegates | 171 | ||
| Chlöe Swarbrick elected | |||
References
- ^ McConnell, Glenn (30 January 2024). "James Shaw steps down as Green co-leader, to ease out of politics". Stuff. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ Desmarais, Felix (30 January 2024). "James Shaw to resign as Greens co-leader". 1News. Television New Zealand. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ a b Coughlan, Thomas. "Green Party taking steps to find next co-leader to replace James Shaw". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Alex Foulkes To Stand For Green Party Co-Leader". Scoop. 10 February 2024.
- ^ "Green Party activist puts forward radical manifesto in leadership bid". Radio New Zealand. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ Trevett, Claire (2 February 2024). "Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick announces run for leadership after James Shaw resignation". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "Chlöe Swarbrick announces she will run for Greens co-leadership". Radio New Zealand. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ Coughlan, Thomas (30 January 2024). "Green Party taking steps to find next co-leader to replace James Shaw". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ "Who will be the next Green Party co-leader(s)?". Radio New Zealand. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ Hernandez, Francisco (31 January 2024). "Why I thought about running for Green Co-Leader". Francisco's Substack. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ "Swarbrick talking with friends, colleagues over possible co-leader bid". 1News. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Sowman-Lund, Stewart (30 January 2024). "Who could replace James Shaw as Green Party co-leader?". The Spinoff.
- ^ "Green Party caucus role keeps Teanau Tuiono out of leadership race". The New Zealand Herald. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Chlöe Swarbrick confirmed new co-leader of the Green Party". The New Zealand Herald. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.