Golriz Ghahraman down, Elizabeth Kerekere up in new Green Party list - Efeso Collins in unwinnable position

Green co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw. Photo / Alex Burton

First-term MP Elizabeth Kerekere has rocketed up the Green Party’s rankings in an early version of the list that the party will take to the election, rising from ninth place to fourth.

New candidate Hūhana Lyndon is another rising star, and was ranked eighth on the list. One MP who might be worried is Golriz Ghahraman, who has fallen two spots to ninth.

On current polling, the Greens would have roughly eight MPs in Parliament, meaning Ghahraman might miss out on a seat. The Taxpayer’s Union-Curia poll had the Greens with eight seats - a Talbot Mills Poll had the party slightly higher with 10 seats.

Former Auckland mayoral candidate Efeso Collins is unlikely to make it to Parliament on this list, sitting at 12th place. The Greens have only twice had a caucus with 12 or more members. The Greens would need to improve their polling or rank Collins higher for him to enter Parliament.

Green co-leader James Shaw said “2023 will be one of the most consequential elections we have had in Aotearoa for decades. I am confident that with such a diverse, experienced group of Green Party candidates Aotearoa will elect the most progressive, climate-focused Government we have ever had”.

Co-leader Marama Davidson said she was “proud that the Green Party is heading into this year’s election with such an outstanding group of candidates. The more MPs we get elected, the stronger our voice will be, and the more we can do to protect the climate, restore nature, and build an Aotearoa that works for everyone”.

This is not the list the Greens will take to the election - although the final list might be similar. Green Party branches select delegates to attend a conference to hear from candidates and form an opinion on who would make a good MP.

Those delegates go back to their local branches and discuss who impressed them and who did not. After consulting with those local members, delegates vote to form an initial list - which is the document that was released today.

This list will be voted on by all Green Party members. Those members can choose the ranking selected by delegates, or to rank candidates in their own preferred order.

A final list will be formed from this vote of all members and will be released at the end of May.

Initial list

1. Marama Davidson
2. James Shaw
3. Chlöe Swarbrick
4. Dr Elizabeth Kerekere
5. Julie Anne Genter
6. Teanau Tuiono
7. Ricardo Menéndez March
8. Hūhana Lyndon
9. Golriz Ghahraman
10. Lan Pham
11. Steve Abel
12. Fa’anānā Efeso Collins
13. Darleen Tana
14. Kahurangi Carter
15. Lawrence Xu-Nan
16. Benjamin Doyle
17. Francisco Hernandez
18. Scott Willis
19. Stephanie Rodgers
20. Suveen Sanis Walgampola
21. Gina Dao-McLay
22. Celia Wade-Brown
23. Reina Tuai Penney
24. Mike Davidson
25. Dave Kennedy
26. Nick Ratcliffe
27. Rochelle Francis
28. Sapna Samant
29. Dr Alec McNeil
30. Richard Wesley
31. Neelu Jennings
32. Kair Lippiatt