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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.
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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.
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]
The following individuals announced their candidacy:
| Name | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 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. [3] She announced her candidacy on 8 February. [11] |
The following individuals were speculated as being possible leadership candidates, but ruled out a bid:
Ghahraman, 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]
A 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]
Former 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]
Former Green List MP (2011–17) and Auckland City Councillor (2007–10) Denise Roche ruled herself out of standing. [8]
Sage, 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]
Elected as a List MP in 2017, Chlöe Swarbrick declined to stand stating it was "too early" in her career to be co-leader. [15]
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]
The voting was conducted by delegates from electorates across the country. The following table gives the ballot results: [19]
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marama Davidson | 110 | 76.38 | |
| Julie Anne Genter | 34 | 23.62 | |
| Majority | 76 | 52.77 | |
| Turnout | 144 | — | |
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