Election 2026: Several Green MPs receive small boost but still at risk as party releases final candidate list

The Green Party has released its final candidate list for the 2026 election. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Several current Green MPs have moved higher up the party’s 2026 election candidate list but some still remain at risk of not returning to Parliament if recent polling is reflected on November 7.

The party has released its final list after a number of party representatives discussed the initial list, which was published in March.

The initial list was formulated by Green Party delegates who met candidates and consulted with their local groups on where they should rank candidates.

Co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick are automatically given the top two list spots.

In the final list out today, MP Lan Pham has moved up to sixth from being ranked number 8 on the initial list, leap-frogging fellow MPs Hūhana Lyndon and Lawrence Xu-Nan.

MPs Teanau Tuiono, Tamatha Paul and Julie Anne Genter round out the top five after the co-leaders.

Other MPs have risen slightly in the list; Steve Abel (12th, up from 14th), Scott Willis (15th, up from 16th) and Mike Davidson (20th, up from 22nd).

Former Te Pāti Māori lawyer Tania Waikato has also moved two places higher to 13th on the final list.

Bhen Goodsir, an Auckland Pride co-chair, is among those to take the biggest tumble down the list, dropping four places to 17th.

According to Sunday’s 1News Verian poll, the Green Party would have enough support to hold 13 seats. That would allow Abel to return as well as making Waikato an MP. It would not lead to Willis remaining as an MP.

However, Green Party polling had been variable in recent polls. This month’s Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll put the party’s support at 7.8%, giving the party just 10 seats.

That would spell an exit from Parliament for Abel and Kahurangi Carter, who is ranked 11th.

Final list:

1. Marama Davidson
2. Chlöe Swarbrick
3. Teanau Tuiono
4. Tamatha Paul
5. Julie Anne Genter
6. Lan Pham
7. Hūhana Melanie Lyndon 
8. Lawrence Xu-Nan
9. Ricardo Menéndez March
10. Francisco Hernandez
11. Kahurangi Carter
12. Steve Abel
13. Tania Waikato
14. Craig Aaron Pauling
15. Scott Willis
16. Rohan O’Neill-Stevens
17. Bhen Goodsir
18. Yasmine Serhan
19. Louise Hutt
20. Mike Davidson
21. Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth
22. Shreejan Pandey
23. Lauren Craig
24. Zephyr Brown
25. Josh Jacobsen
26. Angela Dalton
27. Alika Wells
28. Carl Morgan
29. Courtney White
30. Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith 
31. Awhi Haenga
32. Melody Willis
33. Pamela Grealey
34. Alma de Anda
35. Chris Norton

Initial list:

1. Marama Davidson
2. Chlöe Swarbrick
3. Teanau Tuiono
4. Tamatha Paul
5. Julie Anne Genter
6. Hūhana Melanie Lyndon 
7. Lawrence Xu-Nan
8. Lan Pham
9. Ricardo Menendez March
10. Francisco Hernandez
11. Kahurangi Carter
12. Craig Aaron Pauling
13. Bhen Goodsir
14. Steve Abel
15. Tania Waikato
16. Scott Willis
17. Rohan O’Neill-Stevens
18. Yasmine Serhan
19. Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth
20. Louise Hutt
21. Shreejan Pandey
22. Mike Davidson
23. Asher Wilson-Goldman
24. Zephyr Brown
25. Angela Dalton
26. Josh Jacobsen
27. Lauren Craig
28. Carl Morgan
29. Nathan Hoturoa Gray
30. Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith 
31. Alika Wells
32. Courtney White
33. Awhi Haenga
34. Pamela Grealey
35. Alma de Anda
36. Chris Norton
37. Melody Willis

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.