Chlöe Swarbrick has announced her bid for the position of Green Party co-leader, confirming widespread speculation.
One co-leadership position opened up following James Shaw’s announcement this week that he would step down.
Whoever took the job would be working closely with fellow co-leader Marama Davidson.
Swarbrick announced her candidacy at Parliament this morning.
"I am a proud member of the Green Party. More than any other party we understand that there is far greater leadership out there in the community than there is in the so-called halls of power. I am here to serve my communities," she said.
"Over the past three days, they have asked me to stand up and put myself forward for this role.
"As co-leader, I want to show everyone in this country the power running through their veins to choose our future."
1News yesterday reported Swarbrick's expected run for the position.
She had previously been speaking with caucus colleagues and friends about whether she should enter the race.
"It's absolutely no secret that I've never coveted anything like this, and what I hold really true to is that this kaupapa is bigger than any one person. So I'm far more focused on the party than I am myself," Swarbrick said on Wednesday.
Nominations for the role close on February 14 and the new co-leader is expected to be announced on March 10.
"Conventional, incremental politics has failed to rise to the challenges we face - those intertwined climate, inequality, biodiversity and housing crises," Swarbrick said. "We cannot leave politics to the politicians.
"I will be spending the next few weeks talking to members of the Green Party about my vision for the future of our movement and to ask their trust in me.
"If I am elected to work alongside Marama Davidson, I will grow the Green movement to achieve tangible, real-world, people-powered change – as I have since I first signed up – but now, at even greater scale."
Swarbrick also took aim at the Government's "cruel agenda" and said she will work towards "our nation's first Green-led Government".
"[I will] communicate the imagination, potential, and the necessary hope to mobilise for the sustainable, inspiring and inclusive Aotearoa that I see reflected every day in our communities."
'Researched radical'
Speaking to media, Swarbrick – who rose to international prominence after using the phrase "OK boomer" in Parliament in 2019 – called herself a "nerd" and offered a glimpse of her ambitions for the party.
"Times are tough but they do not have to be," she said, pointing to the Green Party's electoral gains at last year's election.
"After conversations with all of my caucus colleagues, party members, family and friends and many people that I admire and respect, I'm stepping up – and I am asking everyone across this country to realise their power to do the same, because bad things happen when good people stand idly by.
"No one person can do this alone, so mark my words when I say that we are going to build the biggest Green movement that any of you have ever seen and we are going to change our world for the better."
Responding to questions, Swarbrick took a dig at traditional allies, Labour.
"I think it's abundantly clear to any New Zealanders out there that the legacy parties are just that.
"They do not represent the future of this country."
She called the Green Party the "leading voice" of the political left and described herself as a "researched radical".
Asked about potential challengers, Swabrick said she had spoken to all of her fellow Green MPs – however, she added: "I couldn't tell you what's on other peoples' minds."
Who else could go for it?
Swarbrick will be the most prominent contender, currently ranking third on the Greens' list – but she could face competition.
Ranked fifth on the Greens' list at the last election, MP Teanau Tuiono publicly contemplated running for the leadership two years ago.
Julie Anne Genter could also throw her hat in the ring as the longest-serving MP in the caucus.
Ricardo Menéndez March, another prominent MP, has said he doesn't plan on putting his name forward.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has said the next co-leader was a matter for the Green Party – but when pressed, said he thought it was "likely" to be Swarbrick.
How does the party choose?
Green Party members will vote for their preferred candidate at local meetings after nominations close.
Each local branch is entitled to a certain number of votes proportionate to the number of members who live in that electorate.
It used to be that the Green Party required one co-leader to be male and the other female – but that changed in 2022.
Now, the requirement for the party's co-leadership is that one co-leader must be female. The other person can be any gender.
The party's rules also state one co-leader must be Māori. Marama Davidson covers both requirements.
Following March 10, whoever gets the job will face annual tests of their position.
The Greens' co-leaders are elected every year at the party's annual general meeting (AGM).
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