Greens’ draft list win for newcomers
Sitting MPs are largely protected with big promotions for Davidson and Genter
Green Party candidates Chloe Swarbrick, Jack McDonald and farmer John Hart are the big winners in a draft party list compiled by delegates. The list largely protects sitting MPs — although David Clendon has dropped to 16th — with big promotions for Marama Davidson (up 12) and transport and health spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter — who has risen to third place just below the co-leaders.
Newcomers Chloe Swarbrick, who was third in the Auckland mayoral contest, and Golriz Ghahraman, an Iranian refugee and human rights lawyer, rank in the party’s top 15 candidates and are within reach of Parliament. Hart, a Wairarapa farmer who has stood before, has also been elevated to the top 15.
Another high-profile candidate, Hayley Holt, is well down at 29 and almost certain to miss out on election if her ranking does not change in the final list.
The rankings are based on votes by party delegates and are subject to change. They are used to guide the membership, who decide the final placings.
Based on the draft list, the party would have three new MPs after the election if it maintained the same level of support — Swarbrick, McDonald and Hart.
Holt said she had told delegates she was not ready to go into Parliament yet and wanted to finish her arts degree in history and politics at the University of Auckland and get more experience with the party first. She was likely to aim at 2020 instead.
“I’ve always liked to make sure I’ve got all my ducks in a row before I make a play.”
The rankings could disappoint some, such as MPs Kennedy Graham and David Clendon, who were moved down the list compared with 2014. Clendon dropped out of the top 15 — and was the only one who would not get back into Parliament if the Greens returned with the same number of MPs.
Co-leader James Shaw said the list was likely to change a bit after the members voted but it was not usually significant. To get the top 20 in, he estimated the party would need 14-16 per cent of the vote.
“There are obviously people who were hoping for higher, and that includes some sitting MPs as well as some of those will have been candidates before.”
The party’s executive could then change some candidates round if it felt there was a need for adjustment, but only a maximum of two spots either way.
He said Hart would be a valuable addition to the team with his background as a farmer and interest in using technology to monitor and clean up waterways. Hart would be the first farmer MP for the Greens since Jeanette Fitzsimons, who has a smallholding in the Coromandel.
It is Hart’s second time standing for the Greens — he has a small organic beef and sheep farm in the Wairarapa, which would be run by his wife if he made it into Parliament. “It was a really logical decision.
Swarbrick had sought the selection for Auckland Central but lost to Denise Roche — however, she pipped Roche on the list by one spot — Roche was at 14 and Swarbrick 13. Swarbrick has since been selected to stand in Maungakiekie instead.