Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Green Party called an impromptu press conference, telling media it would discuss "an issue that is not yet in the media and is of a personal and sensitive nature".
At the press conference, Davidson said just over a month ago after a routine mammogram showed "some potential concerns", she underwent further testing which discovered she had breast cancer. She said the cancer had been caught early and she would be undergoing treatment soon.
"Despite everything, I am feeling good. Mostly, I am feeling grateful for the incredible care and support," Davidson told reporters.
"If anything, this diagnosis has given me more passion and energy to do the mahi that needs to be done."
Davidson will be taking leave from the end of June and will have a partial mastectomy in the first week of July. She does not know exactly when she will be able to return to work but said treatment and recovery would likely take four months.
Davidson intends to stay on as co-leader of the Party after treatment and co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and the rest of the Green MPs will hold the kaupapa while she is away.
"I will be returning with fierce determination to fight for people and the planet," Davidson said.
Davidson first entered Parliament in 2015 and has been the Party's co-leader since 2018. She has six children and a husband, who she said has been her rock of emotional support.
Davidson stressed the importance of early cancer detection and highlighted the inequities in the health system. She stressed the need for more people to be screened for breast cancer and urged women to book in their mammograms.
"I can't help but feel how deeply unfair it is that not everyone in Aotearoa has access to the same support that I do and how much better off we all could be if we put our values of care into action, not only at a personal level but as a country," she said.
"This is why I feel absolutely, unequivocally sure in my decision to stay on as co-leader once treatment is complete.
"There are too many things I still want to help with. There is so much mahi yet to do."
She said she and Swarbrick are a "wonderful team of wāhine co-leaders" and added they "are only getting started".
Swarbrick told media Davidson is one of the strongest people she has met.
"I cannot begin to express just how proud I am to stand alongside her and to do the work and do the job of holding the space for her to return," Swarbrick said.
"The last few months have been an incredibly rough time and to that effect, I think that you can see that our caucus has stuck together."
Green MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins died suddenly in February while participating in a charity run.
Meanwhile, the Party's investigation into MP Darleen Tana remains ongoing after she was stood down following accusations of migrant exploitation at her husband's business.
Green MP Julie Anne Genter is set to face Parliament's Privileges Committee after she yelled in the face of a National MP in the House in May.
And at the beginning of the year, MP Golriz Ghahraman resigned from the party following allegations of shoplifting. She later pleaded guilty to four counts of shoplifting in court.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on social media his thoughts are with Davidson and her family.
"I wish her all the very best for a speedy recovery and hope she can join us in Parliament again soon."
The Labour Party sent a statement saying the Party was sad to hear of Davidson's diagnosis and was wishing her well.
"Receiving health news like this is never easy, and the Labour Party is wishing Marama Davidson the best for her upcoming surgery and recovery," Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.
"We tautoko her message – don't put off being checked. I am relieved for Marama, her family, friends and colleagues by her comment that this was picked up early."
Hipkins said he was pleased to hear she will return to continue her work as an MP, and looks forward to seeing her back later this year.
"Politics can be robust, but we are all human. It's moments like these that remind us of that," Hipkins said.
