2018 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand female co-leadership election explained

Election Name:2018 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand female co-leadership election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2009 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand female co-leadership election
Previous Year:2009
Election Date:8 April 2018
Candidate1:Marama Davidson
Colour1:098137
Popular Vote1:110
Percentage1:76.38
Candidate2:Julie Anne Genter
Colour2:098137
Popular Vote2:34
Percentage2:23.62
Co-leader
Posttitle:Co-leader after election
Before Election:Metiria Turei
After Election:Marama Davidson

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand female co-leadership election, 2018 is an election that took place between 26 March and 7 April 2018 to determine the future leadership of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background

On 9 August 2017, Metiria Turei announced she had stood down as co-leader of the Green Party following media scrutiny of her public admission to committing benefit fraud in the early 1990s, stating that the "scrutiny on [her] family has become unbearable."[1] This triggered an election to fill the now vacant female co-leadership, which the party had previously stated would be conducted at the 2018 party annual general meeting.[2] It had been possible that a Special General Meeting or postal ballot may have been used to elect a new co-leader earlier.[3]

On 26 January 2018, James Shaw announced the election timeline to determine the next female co-leader, with the ballots to be counted and a winner to be announced on 8 April 2018.[4] Following the election, Marama Davidson was elected the new female co-leader of the Green Party.[5]

Key dates

Candidates

Declared candidates

The following individuals announced their candidacy:

NamePositionNotes

Marama Davidson		List MP since 2015 Davidson held a Facebook event on 4 February for an "announcement", but would not tell the press what the topic would be. Media had hypothesized the event as being a candidacy declaration.[7] On the same day, Davidson announced her candidacy for co-leader.[8]

Julie Anne Genter		List MP since 2011 Genter had been described as one of the top contenders to take over as co-leader, but hadn't yet commented on any leadership aspirations.[10] Following Turei's resignation, Genter said she was still to make a decision on her candidacy, but might do so when dates were finalised. She announced her candidacy on 8 February.[11]

Declined

The following individuals were speculated as being possible leadership candidates, but ruled out a bid:

Golriz GhahramanGhahraman, elected as a List MP in 2017 (following special votes being cast) said to media she was "not at all" interested in the position of co-leader.[12]
Jan LogieA List MP since 2011 and Under-Secretary for Justice since 2017, Jan Logie did not respond to media requests for comment regarding the co-leadership.[3] The press speculated that after Davidson announced her candidacy Logie ruled out running herself.[7]
Deborah Morris-TraversFormer Green Party Chief of Staff Deborah Morris-Travers, who was replaced following Turei's admission to benefit fraud due to her involvement,[13] ruled out a bid for the co-leadership herself.[8]
Denise RocheFormer Green List MP (2011–17) and Auckland City Councillor (2007–10) Denise Roche ruled herself out of standing.[8]
Eugenie SageSage, a List MP since 2011 and since 2017 Minister of Conservation and Minister for Land Information as well as a member of the Green Party's negotiation team with Labour, said she had not yet made any decision; "I'm still getting my feet under the table as a minister."[3] There had been widespread speculation that Sage would put her hand up as a "compromise candidate". Ultimately, she ruled out standing citing a desire to focus on her ministerial duties instead.[14]
Chlöe SwarbrickElected as a List MP in 2017, Chlöe Swarbrick declined to stand stating it was "too early" in her career to be co-leader.[15]

Debates

On 1 March a live-streamed debate between Davidson and Genter was held in the Legislative Council Chambers, Wellington hosted by Henry Cooke.[16] Davidson and Genter again met in a debate hosted by Lisa Owen on Newshub Nation on 10 March,[17] and in another hosted by Mihingarangi Forbes on The Hui on 11 March.[18]

Result

The voting was conducted by delegates from electorates across the country. The following table gives the ballot results:[19]

CandidateVotes%
Marama Davidson11076.38
Julie Anne Genter3423.62
Majority7652.77
Turnout144

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Metiria Turei resigns as Green Party co-leader. Radio New Zealand. 9 August 2017 . 28 August 2017.
  2. News: Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei resigns as Co-leader . 9 August 2017 . 28 August 2017 . 28 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170828143530/https://www.greens.org.nz/news/press-release/green-party-co-leader-metiria-turei-resigns-co-leader . dead .
  3. Web site: Greens meeting to set election date to replace Metiria Turei as woman co-leader . 7 November 2017 . Claire . Trevett . . 7 November 2017 .
  4. Web site: Timeline announced for Green Party Female Co-leadership election. 26 January 2018 . James . Shaw . . 26 January 2018.
  5. News: Marama Davidson elected new Greens co-leader. Newshub. 8 April 2018 . 8 April 2018.
  6. Web site: Green Party announces Ministers . 21 October 2017 . . 21 October 2017.
  7. Web site: Green MP Marama Davidson likely to announce leadership bid . 23 January 2018 . Henry . Cooke . . 23 January 2018.
  8. Web site: Greens co-leadership race: Marama Davidson first off the blocks . 4 February 2018 . Anna . Bracewell-Worrall . . 4 February 2018.
  9. Web site: Green Party ministerial and undersecretary portfolios . 25 October 2017 . . 25 October 2017.
  10. Web site: Ousted Green MPs split over wanting to return to the party after co-leader's resignation . 10 August 2017 . Jo . Moir . . 28 August 2017.
  11. Web site: Julie Anne Genter announces Green Party leadership run . 8 February 2018 . Henry . Cooke . . 8 February 2018.
  12. Web site: Golriz Ghahraman NZ's first refugee MP in Parliament . 7 October 2017 . Lloyd . Burr . NewsHub . 7 October 2017.
  13. Web site: Top Green Party staffers move on as turmoil hits party's backroom . 22 August 2017 . Stacey . Kirk . . 13 February 2018.
  14. Web site: Eugenie Sage not running for Green Party co-leader . 12 February 2018 . Henry . Cooke . . 13 February 2018.
  15. Web site: Chloe Swarbrick: 'Too early' in career to be Green Party co-leader . 24 September 2017 . . 7 October 2017.
  16. Web site: Both Green Party leadership candidates express doubt about budget rules . 1 March 2018 . Henry . Cooke . . 1 March 2018.
  17. News: Greens' Julie Anne Genter intends to be a 'clearer, stronger' leader than James Shaw . John-Michael . Swannix . 10 March 2018 . 12 March 2018.
  18. News: Green Party '6 out of 10' on Treaty – Marama Davidson . . . 11 March 2018 . 12 March 2018.
  19. News: Marama Davidson elected new Green Party Co-leader . . 8 April 2018 . 8 April 2018.

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