2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election Turnout 171 delegates
The 2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election was held following the resignation of James Shaw and was won by Chlöe Swarbrick .
James Shaw announced his resignation as co-leader on 30 January 2024.
Under the Green Party 's constitution, the party is led by two co-leaders . Historically, it was required that one of the co-leaders be female and the other male. However, the constitution was amended in May 2022 to remove the requirement that one co-leader be male. Additionally, it was resolved that one of the two co-leaders must be Māori .[ 1] It is not required for Co-leaders to be a Member of Parliament, or any other elected representative of the party. [ 2] Co-leaders are elected for one-year terms by party delegates at annual general meetings (AGMs).[ a] If a leadership position is uncontested, the candidate must secure a 75 per cent majority of party delegates' votes to be confirmed. If this threshold is not met, then nominations for the position are re-opened and a fresh election is held.[ 3] [ 4]
James Shaw was first elected to Parliament at the 2014 general election . He came third in the Wellington Central electorate but was ranked twelfth on the party list and was elected as a list MP .[ 5] After Russel Norman retired from politics in 2015, Shaw was elected to replace him as party co-leader, defeating sitting MPs Kevin Hague and Gareth Hughes and Waitematā Local Board member Vernon Tava .[ 6] Shaw was re-elected as a list MP at the 2017 , 2020 and 2023 general elections. Following the 2017 general election, Shaw became a minister in the Sixth Labour Government . On 30 January 2024, he announced his resignation as co-leader.[ 7]
Nominations for the election opened on 31 January and closed on 14 February 2024. Each branch of the party will have a number of votes proportional to its membership.[ 8] The result was announced on 10 March 2024, confirming that Swarbrick had been elected in a landslide with 98.8% of the vote.[ 9]
Declared candidates [ edit ]
Declined to be candidates [ edit ]
Results were announced by the Green Party on 10 March 2024.[ 19]
^ If a vacancy arises between AGMs, a ballot of delegates or a special general meeting is held to elect a co-leader until the next AGM.[ 3]
^ "Green Party leaders 'proud' of constitution changes" . Radio New Zealand . 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ a b Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand (June 2022). "Constitution of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand" (PDF) . Electoral Commission . sec. 5.9. Retrieved 10 January 2023 .
^ Watkins, Tracy; Galuszka, Jono (23 July 2022). "Surprised James Shaw not reconfirmed as Green Party co-leader, nominations to be reopened" . Stuff . Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022 .
^ "Wellington's Labour MPs (and Dunne) all re-elected, but party vote goes to National" . Scoop . Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2022 .
^ "James Shaw elected new Green Party male Co-leader" (Press release). Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand . Scoop . Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2022 .
^ 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 (30 January 2024). "Green Party taking steps to find next co-leader to replace James Shaw" . The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 30 January 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 .
^ "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 .