Green members to quit if Genter wins
A group of Green Party members have threatened to quit the party if Julie Anne Genter wins the coleadership race.
The women’s minister is facing off against backbencher Marama Davidson for co-leader of the party, filling the vacancy left when Metiria Turei resigned last year.
Members are voting at their branches for who they want their delegates to cast a final vote for.
The winner will be announced on Sunday.
A small group of Young Greens members – understood to be fewer than 10 – have threatened online to quit if Genter wins. Several branches have also seen single members threaten to quit in person.
Aaryn Barlow, a member from Motueka, said his branch decided to give its delegate vote to Genter – but encountered one member who threatened to quit if Genter won.
‘‘We’ve definitely heard that quite a bit from Marama supporters, which has put a lot of people off, because you really question their commitment to Green values if they are going to throw their toys out of the cot because they didn’t get their co-leader,’’ Barlow said.
‘‘It’s meant to be about more than just a co-leader.’’
Many Davidson supporters are keen to make sure one of the coleaders is Ma¯ori – if the Green Party were to elect Genter, it would be the only party in Parliament without Ma¯ ori in the leadership team.
One Auckland member, who did not want to be named, said he was considering leaving if Genter won.
‘‘I daresay there would probably be a notable exodus of members if Julie Anne won,’’ he said.
He was keen to see the Green Party become the new political home of Ma¯ori and didn’t think having ‘‘two Pa¯ keha¯ , middle-class co-leaders’’ would help do that.
Davidson said it was just a ‘‘handful’’ who were ‘‘free to speak about their own independent thoughts’’.
‘‘My focus is going to be on healing the party, particularly as a non-ministerial co-leader if I get elected, and convincing all the members that there’s no need for people to leave if I’m not put into that position.’’
Genter said it was ‘‘really disappointing and surprising’’.
‘‘I don’t think it would reflect the view of most Green Party members ...
‘‘Whoever is going to be leader, they should want to stay and contribute to the party – if they really care about the Green Party.’’