2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election explained

Election Name:2024 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Turnout:171 delegates
Previous Election:2022 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election
Previous Year:2022
Election Date:February–March 2024
Image1:Chlöe Swarbrick headshot (cropped 3 by 4).jpg
Candidate1:Chlöe Swarbrick
Colour1:098137
Popular Vote1:169
Percentage1:98.8%
Co-leaders
Before Election:Marama Davidson
James Shaw
Posttitle:Co-leaders after election
After Election:Marama Davidson
Chlöe Swarbrick

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.

Background

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). 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]

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]

Election process

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.[7] The result was announced on 10 March 2024, confirming that Swarbrick had been elected in a landslide with 98.8% of the vote.[8]

Candidates

Declared candidates

Declined to be candidates

Results

Results were announced by the Green Party on 10 March 2024.[18]

CandidateVotes%
Chlöe Swarbrick16998.8
Alex Foulkes00.00
Reopen nominations21.2
Total delegate votes171

Notes and References

  1. News: 3 May 2022. Green Party leaders 'proud' of constitution changes . 25 July 2022 . . en-nz . 25 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220725230035/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/466386/green-party-leaders-proud-of-constitution-changes . live .
  2. Web site: Coughlan . Thomas . Green Party taking steps to find next co-leader to replace James Shaw . . New Zealand Herald . 28 February 2024.
  3. News: Tracy . Watkins . Jono . Galuszka . 23 July 2022 . Surprised James Shaw not reconfirmed as Green Party co-leader, nominations to be reopened . 25 July 2022 . . en . 25 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220725230027/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300644340/surprised-james-shaw-not-reconfirmed-as-green-party-coleader-nominations-to-be-reopened . live .
  4. Web site: Wellington's Labour MPs (and Dunne) all re-elected, but party vote goes to National . 25 July 2022 . . en . 21 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200921034859/http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=71094 . live .
  5. . James Shaw elected new Green Party male Co-leader . 25 July 2022 . . 21 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171021111609/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1505/S00595/james-shaw-elected-new-green-party-male-co-leader.htm . live .
  6. News: James Shaw steps down as Green co-leader, to ease out of politics . Glenn . McConnell . 2024-01-30 . 2024-01-30 . Stuff.
  7. News: James Shaw to resign as Greens co-leader . Felix . Desmarais . . . 2024-01-30 . 2024-01-30.
  8. News: Green Party taking steps to find next co-leader to replace James Shaw . Thomas . Coughlan . . 2024-01-30 . 2024-01-30.
  9. Web site: Alex Foulkes To Stand For Green Party Co-Leader . 10 February 2024 . Scoop.
  10. News: Green Party activist puts forward radical manifesto in leadership bid . . 11 February 2024 . 11 February 2024 .
  11. Web site: Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick announces run for leadership after James Shaw resignation . 2 February 2024 . New Zealand Herald . Claire . Trevett.
  12. News: Chlöe Swarbrick announces she will run for Greens co-leadership . . 2 February 2024 . 2 February 2024.
  13. News: Who will be the next Green Party co-leader(s)? . . 30 January 2024 . 20 January 2024.
  14. Web site: Hernandez . Francisco . Why I thought about running for Green Co-Leader . Francisco's Substack . 31 January 2024 . 1 February 2024.
  15. News: Swarbrick talking with friends, colleagues over possible co-leader bid . . 31 January 2024 . 31 January 2024 .
  16. Web site: Who could replace James Shaw as Green Party co-leader? . 30 January 2024 . The Spinoff . Stewart . Sowman-Lund.
  17. News: Green Party caucus role keeps Teanau Tuiono out of leadership race . . 9 February 2024 . 9 February 2024 .
  18. News: Chlöe Swarbrick confirmed new co-leader of the Green Party . . 10 March 2024 . 10 March 2024.

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