Grading the Greens

The MPs making their mark

The Green Party caucus is having mixed success in its first term in Government in the 20 years it has been in Parliament. But the party’s parliamentary wing has a handicap that afflicts no other party to the same extent.

Its own party is its harshest critic and no more so than its former MPs who criticise it on a regular basis.

The problem is exacerbated because many of its ex-MPs remain politically active, such as Russel Norman, who now heads

Greenpeace in New Zealand.

Commentary and criticism on Government policy is part of his job and it is unusual to hear him say anything positive.

But Sue Bradford, Kevin Hague, Catherine Delahunty and occasionally Jeanette Fitzsimons are also critics of the Government.

What happens in the Greens is quite different to other parties.

The closest National gets to it is former MP Chester Borrows giving interviews critical of National Party policy proposals or former leader Sir

John Key saying what a world class candidate Christopher Luxon would make for National.

Labour has its critics but they tend to be mavericks such as ex-Labour MP John Tamihere or Labouraligned commentators.

Norman’s criticism stings most because he was co-leader of the Greens for so long — nine years compared to James Shaw’s three.

His most cutting criticism was when he said the Greens could have achieved more if they had stayed in Opposition.

Norman brought the Greens into the 21st century, making it his goal to give the party economic credibility.

Norman left Parliament in 2015 after fighting three election campaigns unsuccessfully.

He almost certainly left not anticipating that the party could be part of Government in two years, although it is not certain he could have negotiated such a compromise deal; his natural home is opposing.

That said, Norman brought the Greens into the 21st century, making it his goal to give the party economic credibility, concentrate on climate change and widening its appeal.

Among the contenders to replace him, Shaw was the most likely to continue with that agenda.

Despite opposition from the Auckland Greens, Shaw beat sitting MPs Kevin Hague, Gareth Hughes and Vernon Tava for the leadership.

Hague is the ex-MP with possibly the most regrets. Had he not quit to head Forest and Bird when he did, he would almost certainly be a minister now.

Shaw joined the Greens in 1990 and did well in contesting Wellington Central, after returning from working in London. But there has been some suspicion of Shaw because of his corporate background.

His “inept” leadership was singled out as the reason young activist Jack McDonald no longer made himself available as a Green candidate, after standing for three successive elections.

With only two men in a caucus of eight, McDonald may have been a shoo-in next year.

Criticism of Shaw has stepped up with the Government’s policy announcements last week to delay the entry of farming to the emissions trading scheme.

For Green activists, such criticism is just part of their culture but it has the potential for wider impact because it appears as disunity and nothing kills support more quickly than that.

It has not reached the rebellion stage.

Under the party’s rules, Shaw and co-leader Marama Davidson will face re-election at the party’s AGM next year.

That is when unity will count the most.