2021 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election

2021 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election

←  2018 7 August 2021 2022  →

Candidate James Shaw Reopen nominations Delegate count 116 20 Percentage 82.86% 14.29%

Co-leader before election James Shaw Co-leader after election James Shaw

The 2021 Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leadership election was held to elect a Green Party co-leader. The election was won on the first ballot by incumbent co-leader and List MP, James Shaw.

Background

In July 2021 Green Party member James Cockle announced his intention to stand for co-leader of the Green Party at that years annual general meeting (AGM). This triggered an election to fill the male co-leadership. ^[1] It was the first time a sitting co-leader had been challenged for the leadership at an AGM since 2013. ^[2]

Candidates

James Cockle

Cockle, a climate activist and software developer from Dunedin, ran for the leadership campaigning largely on promoting existing Green Party policy. He stated his unhappiness with the progress the Greens were making during the Parliamentary term and wanted the Greens to become a "major party" and cease being seen as "Labour's little helper". ^[1]

James Shaw

James Shaw had been a List MP since 2014 and had been co-leader since 2015. Following the formation of the Sixth Labour Government, which the Green Party supported, he was appointed a minister outside cabinet as Minister for Climate Change (2017–present) and Minister of Statistics (2017–2020). ^[3] Shaw stated he was "quietly confident" he would be re-elected by party members. ^[1]

Result

The voting was conducted via ballot of the 140 party delegates from electorates across the country. The following table gives the ballot results: ^{[4] [5]}

Candidate		Votes	%
	James Shaw	116	82.86
	James Cockle	4	2.86
	Reopen nominations	20	14.29
Majority		96	68.57
Turnout		140	—N/a

References

1. Scotcher, Katie (6 July 2021). "Green Party leadership challenge: James Shaw vs James Cockle". Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 8 August 2021.
2. Vance, Andrea (27 November 2013). "Russel Norman faces leadership challenge". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 8 August 2021.
3. "Hon James Shaw". New Zealand Parliament . 13 May 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
4. "Greens co-leader James Shaw easily beats off challenge". Stuff.co.nz . 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
5. Giovannetti, Justin (9 August 2021). "James Shaw wipes floor with rival as Marama Davidson lets rip at National Party". The Spinoff . Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.