Explore Greens's leader, background and priorities. An educational guide, not an endorsement.
The Greens are led by two very different but complementary women. Chlöe Swarbrick became famous at 23 when she ran for Mayor of Auckland and finished a surprise third. She joined the Greens, entered Parliament in 2017 as a list MP, then won the Auckland Central electorate in 2020 - a seat the Greens had never won before. She is known for plain-English speeches, mental-health and drug-law campaigning, and the now-meme phrase 'OK boomer' in the House. She was elected co-leader in 2024 after James Shaw resigned as co-leader, joining Marama Davidson, who was already co-leader. Davidson, of Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa and other iwi, grew up in South Auckland in a big whānau and worked for years as a Human Rights Commission adviser and community organiser on family violence and child poverty before being elected in 2015. She became female co-leader in 2018, beating Julie Anne Genter in a member vote. Together they have rebuilt the Greens after a difficult term that included Shaw's resignation and several MPs leaving Parliament. The pair argue New Zealand should tax wealth to pay for free dental care, warmer homes and a faster climate transition, and that Te Tiriti o Waitangi must be at the centre of how the country is run. Critics say their policies cost too much; supporters say they are the strongest voice on climate and inequality. They go into 2026 hoping to be the third-biggest party.