Election 2023 profiles: Who are Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw?

The Green Party is currently the third largest political party in New Zealand and recent polling suggests it could be in for its largest share of the vote at next month's election. 

Co-led by Marama Davidson and James Shaw, the Greens were polling at 12.3 percent in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll

During this term, Shaw - as Climate Change Minister working in cooperation with the majority Labour Government - managed to implement New Zealand's emissions reduction plan and a climate adaptation proposal.  

The party was also successful in developing a strategy for eliminating family and sexual violence, led by Davidson - the Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Minister. 

The Greens usually align itself with Labour and have had confidence and supply agreements with it in the past, including after the 2017 election in conjunction with NZ First. 

Its latest term in Parliament wasn't short of drama, including a failed ousting of Shaw and senior MP Elizabeth Kerekere resigning over bullying allegations.    

So, who are the party's co-leaders who could have even more seats in the Beehive after the election?  

Marama Davidson 

Background  

Davidson is from Tāmaki Makaurau and is a descendant of the Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa and Ngāti Porou tribes. 

She has also lived in Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch, her Green Party profile says. 

Political background  

Becoming an MP in 2015, Davidson replaced Metiria Turei as co-leader of the Greens in 2018. 

She's also previously been the party's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate, although she is not standing for the seat this year. 

After becoming co-leader, Davidson described it as "the greatest honour of my life". 

What she wants to achieve 

After becoming co-leader, Davidson indicated she wanted to fight for the "many mummas" who didn't have the support she had. She also took shots at the "fiscal and moral" hole she said was left behind by the previous National Government. 

Fast-forward to 2023, after two terms in Government, Davidson continues to push for "having a plan to make sure everyone has what they need - not the just wealthy few and David's mates", she said during Thursday's night's Newshub Nation minor parties' debate - referring to ACT leader David Seymour. 

Davidson has vowed to continue "making change that honours our connection to each other and our planet". 

James Shaw 

Background 

Shaw grew up in Wellington's Aro Valley and attended Wellington High School before Victoria University. 

He was raised by a solo mum until he was about 11 years old before his mother met his "other mother, and they've been together ever since", he told Newshub Nation in a September interview. "They both mean an enormous amount to me; they've been huge supporters of me in my political career."      

Political background 

Shaw replaced Russel Norman, now the executive director of Greenpeace Aotearoa, as Greens co-leader in 2015. 

He rose from being No.15 on the Greens' list in 2011 to co-leader in a matter of years. 

Before and after becoming co-leader, Shaw stood for the Wellington Central seat - coming third in as many campaigns. 

What he wants to achieve 

Shaw has expressed his certainty that, for New Zealand to achieve more meaningful action on climate change, Green MPs would be needed at the Cabinet table. 

"We are not done. I think we've done some great work but we really are just getting started," he told RNZ earlier this year. "So, I think it is really important for us to continue on. And, frankly, with an expanded caucus, we'll be able to make more of a difference than we've been able to over the last two terms of Parliament." 

Both Shaw and Davidson have said the Greens would only work with parties focused on climate change.  

For Shaw, he wanted New Zealand to be "an example to the world in transitioning to a high-value, clean-tech, post-carbon economy that works for everyone".