Green
Position: Left/Environmentalist l Leaders: Chlöe Swarbrick & Marama Davidson l Currently: Aligned with Labour
Website: Meet the Green MPs - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Greens were born out of the Values Party - the world's first national-level environmentalist party, founded in 1972. Their four pillars are ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, and nonviolence. They combine strong environmental policy with social democratic economics and a deep commitment to honouring the Treaty of Waitangi.
Tax: 'A Tax System for All of Us' - 95% of New Zealanders would pay less tax. Includes a 'super-rich tax' (2.5% annual tax on net assets above $10 million); a Capital Acquisitions Tax (33% on inheritance or gifts over $1 million, with family homes and farms exempt); raising the corporate tax rate to 33%; a new top income tax rate of 45% on income over $180,000.
Housing: Cap rent increases at 2% a year; tens of thousands of new public homes; a national landlord register; scrap no-cause evictions; rental warrant of fitness; reverse landlord interest deductibility
Environment: Revoke all coal, gold and seabed mining consents from the Fast-track Approvals Act; ban new fossil fuel projects; invest 8 billion in green infrastructure.
Poverty: Income Guarantee - a minimum weekly income of $385 for everyone in and out of work, funded by wealth taxes
Treaty of Waitangi: Accept Te Tiriti as the founding document; support co-governance; return land; strengthen the Waitangi tribunal
Cannabis: Have previously campaigned for full legalisation of cannabis in New Zealand
New Zealand is home to one of the world's oldest green political movements. The Values Party, founded in 1972, was the first national-level environmentalist party in the world. It became the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1990.
1996: Entered Parliament for the first time, winning 6.8% and 17 seats as part of the Alliance
1999: Stood independently; won 5.16% and 7 seats
2002-2017: Periods in opposition, supporting Labour through confidence and supply
2017-2023: In government with Labour. James Shaw served as Climate Change Minister, delivering the Zero Carbon Act. Marama Davidson was co-leader alongside Shaw
2023: Won 11.6% and 15 seats - their best result in over two decades
2024-2026: Major internal instability (four MPs lost in five months). Chlöe Swarbrick replaced James Shaw as co-leader alongside Davidson
What they stand for
Key Policies
Party History
Chlöe Swarbrick l Born: 26 June 1994 l MP for: Auckland Central l Role: Co-Leader of Green Party
Chlöe Swarbrick was born 26 June 1994 and grew up in Auckland. She attended school in Auckland and developed early interest in media and public affairs, working as a journalist for Auckland student radio station bFM. Swarbrick has been open about mental health and her struggles resonating with younger New Zealanders.
Swarbrick first came to national attention when she ran for Auckland mayor in 2016 at age 22. She came in third in the mayoral race. After the mayoral race, she became a Green Party candidate and won a list seat in Parliament in the 2017 general election at 23, becoming the youngest member of Parliament at the time. In the 2020 election she won the Auckland Central electorate outright - becoming the second Green MP ever to win an electorate seat and the first one to win Auckland. She continued to hold this seat in 2023. In March 2024, Swarbrick was elected Green Party co-leader alongside Marama Davidson.
Swarbrick has said her goal is to make the Green Party the dominant force on the left.
The Leaders
Marama Davidson l Born: 29 December 1973, Auckland l Role: Co-leader & List MP
Mārama Mere-Ana Davidson was born on 29 December 1973 in Auckland to a family of younger, urban Māori activists. Her father is the well-known actor Rawiri Paratene. Davidson moved frequently from Auckland to Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch. Davidson eventually moved to Hamilton for university and since settled in Manurewa in South Auckland. Before becoming an MP, Davidson worked for the Human Rights Commission for 10 years. She was also the Chief Panelist for the Glenn Inquiry into Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.
Davidson entered Parliament in 2015 as a Green Party list MP. She was elected female co-leader in April 2018 after Metiria Turei resigned and has held the position ever since - making her one of the longest-serving co-leaders in the Greens' history. From 2020 to 2023 during the Labour coalition, she served as New Zealand's first-ever Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence. She also served as Associate Minister for Housing with a focus on addressing homelessness.
Davidson is married to Paul Davidson with whom she has 6 children and two grandchildren. They live in Manurewa in South Auckland. Davidson is a passionate, community-rooted politician.