James Shaw to stand for Green Co-leadership

Green Party MP James Shaw today announced he would stand for the Green Party Co-leadership.

Mr Shaw made the announcement in Wellington where he won the highest percentage of party vote for a Green candidate nationally at last year’s General Election.

"I am standing for Co-leader because the Greens need new energy and thinking if we are to grow as a party," Mr Shaw said.

"If we are going to get meaningful action on climate change and inequality then the Greens need more people to vote for us.

"The Co-leaders are the most visible face of the Greens and need to appeal to a wide range of people. We need Co-leaders that can win those people over, who can overcome the fears of the 28 percent of voters who considered voting Green in 2014 but did not.

"Achieving a bigger, stronger and more effective Green Party is not about years in Parliament and yelling contests in the debating chamber. It's about a proven record in connecting with people, telling them our story and translating that into votes, and that's something I do.

“The fact is I will be working with an experienced and effective Co-leader, Metiria Turei. Russel became Co-leader before entering Parliament.

“I have a track record of growing the vote in Wellington Central where I took the Greens from 20 per cent to just under 30 per cent across two elections, turning the Greens into the second largest party in the electorate.

"I was able to do that because my values are Green values, I joined the Greens when I was 20-years-old.

"The party has the freedom to vote for a candidate who will get the party and Caucus working better together, with a firm steer on the bigger goal. That goal is a larger, stronger party that can deliver good Green change.

"The work Russel Norman did to improve the party's economic credibility was incredibly valuable. I have the skills and background to continue that work.

"I am the right person at the right time to do this job. I am the candidate for a strong Green future."

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