Young Greens of Aotearoa New Zealand | |
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Co-Convenors | Lauren Craig Maioha Hunt |
Founded | 2006 |
Ideology | Green politics |
Political position | Left-wing Left-wing extremism Socialism |
International affiliation | Global Young Greens |
Mother party | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand |
Website | |
younggreens.org.nz |
The Young Greens of Aotearoa New Zealand (or simply Young Greens) is the youth wing of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and a member of the Global Young Greens. The Young Greens represent Green Party members 35 years of age and under. The Young Greens were founded by MP and then Young Green Gareth Hughes in 2006. [1]
The Young Greens have been involved in several different political campaigns, particularly around issues that affect youth. These include Keep It 18, which opposed raising the drinking age from 18 to 21; [2] and petitioning parliament to ban conversion therapy, in a joint effort with fellow youth wing Young Labour. [3]
Each summer, a camp is traditionally held at Jeanette Fitzsimons' farm in the Coromandel Peninsula. [4]
The Young Greens have a national executive, consisting of two co-convenors, a secretary, a membership secretary, a treasurer, Pou Tikanga, two social media coordinators, a Global Young Greens representatives, an equity officer, and a campus co-ordinator. [5]
The Young Greens have a presence at New Zealand's largest universities. As of 2018, there are Young Green campus groups at 7 universities. [6]
In 2025, Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul and Young Greens Member called for the abolishment of the police, after saying visible police presence made some people feel unsafe, and criticising beat patrol officers for allegedly targeting Maori, Polynesian and Homeless people [7] . The comments sparked outrage from many including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and even Chris Hipkins Leader of the Labour party. Paul defended her views saying it was the experience of marginalized groups. The Sensible Sentencing Trust later ran a controversial billboard campaign using Paul’s image with slogans like “Defund da Police.” [8] The Greens pushed back, saying their policies were being misrepresented.
The Young Greens holding space at the table – a short documentary following the group's co-leaders prior to the 2020 election