Wikipedia

2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election

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.

2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election
← 2022 February–March 2024
Turnout171 delegates
 
Candidate Chlöe Swarbrick
Popular vote 169
Percentage 98.8%
Co-leaders before election

Marama Davidson
James Shaw

 Co-leaders after election

Marama Davidson
Chlöe Swarbrick

Background

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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]

Election process

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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]

Candidates

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Declared candidates

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Declined to be candidates

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Results

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Results were announced by the Green Party on 10 March 2024.[19]

Candidate Votes %
Chlöe Swarbrick 169 98.8
Alex Foulkes 0 0.00
Reopen nominations 2 1.2
Total delegate votes 171

Notes

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  1. ^ 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]

References

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ McConnell, Glenn (30 January 2024). "James Shaw steps down as Green co-leader, to ease out of politics". Stuff. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  8. ^ Desmarais, Felix (30 January 2024). "James Shaw to resign as Greens co-leader". 1News. Television New Zealand. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Alex Foulkes To Stand For Green Party Co-Leader". Scoop. 10 February 2024.
  11. ^ "Green Party activist puts forward radical manifesto in leadership bid". Radio New Zealand. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ Trevett, Claire (2 February 2024). "Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick announces run for leadership after James Shaw resignation". New Zealand Herald.
  13. ^ "Chlöe Swarbrick announces she will run for Greens co-leadership". Radio New Zealand. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Who will be the next Green Party co-leader(s)?". Radio New Zealand. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  15. ^ Hernandez, Francisco (31 January 2024). "Why I thought about running for Green Co-Leader". Francisco's Substack. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Swarbrick talking with friends, colleagues over possible co-leader bid". 1News. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  17. ^ Sowman-Lund, Stewart (30 January 2024). "Who could replace James Shaw as Green Party co-leader?". The Spinoff.
  18. ^ "Green Party caucus role keeps Teanau Tuiono out of leadership race". The New Zealand Herald. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Chlöe Swarbrick confirmed new co-leader of the Green Party". The New Zealand Herald. 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
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