Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick has officially entered the race for the party’s co-leadership following the announcement of James Shaw stepping down from the role.
Swarbrick, known for her proactive stance in New Zealand politics, declared her candidacy from Parliament, emphasising her commitment to leading the Green Party towards significant growth with the ultimate goal of achieving the nation’s first Green-led government.
Swarbrick says her decision to run was influenced by discussions with her caucus, family, and friends, as well as calls from her communities to step up to this leadership role, adding that her track record, including her victory in Auckland Central and other electoral successes, demonstrates the party’s capability to enact concrete change and mobilise support under her leadership.
In her announcement, Swarbrick highlighted the importance of community leadership, especially in light of recent challenges like the Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. She stressed the need for widespread cooperation to tackle current crises and pledged to work towards getting more Green-aligned individuals into local government positions.
Swarbrick aims to reshape the public’s perception of politics, urging people to question the fairness of societal systems and who benefits from the status quo. Her vision is to build the largest Green movement New Zealand has ever seen.
Responding to questions about her previous reluctance to seek the co-leadership, Swarbrick cited the encouragement of her colleagues and friends as a key factor in her decision.
Swarbrick also acknowledged the vital role of consensus-building, a skill she admires in James Shaw, and expressed her readiness to expand the Green movement both within and beyond its existing support base.
Looking ahead, Swarbrick envisions a partnership with current co-leader Marama Davidson through the next election and is unphased by the prospect of being part of an all-female leadership duo, which would also make her the youngest co-leader in the party’s history.
The Green Party’s internal process for selecting a new co-leader includes nominations closing on February 14, followed by candidate presentations, party Zoom calls, and a conference. The internal branch discussions will lead to a formal announcement of the new co-leader on March 8.
In the 2023 New Zealand General Election, the Green Party obtained 11.6% of the Party Vote; comparatively, 21% of YOUR ex readers surveyed supported The Green Party.
