James Shaw has announced that he will be stepping down as co-leader of the Green Party in March.
He will remain in Parliament for the time being to support the Bill of Rights (Right to a Sustainable Environment) Amendment Bill.
“It has been the privilege of my lifetime to serve as New Zealand’s climate change minister for the last six years and as Green Party co-leader for nearly nine. It has been an honour to serve alongside my co-leader, Hon Marama Davidson, her predecessor Metiria Turei, and an extraordinary caucus of Green MPs, staff, party officials and volunteers,” Shaw said.
“In government, we passed the landmark Zero Carbon Act with unanimous support across Parliament, becoming one of the first countries in the world to place the Paris Agreement’s 1.5degC target in national legislation.
“It is especially gratifying to see the Zero Carbon Act survive its first change of government. New Zealand can be proud that it has an enduring climate change framework, with long-term targets and institutions that will guide us over several decades and changes of government.”
Nominations for the role of co-leader of the Green Party were set to open on Wednesday, January 31 and close on February 14.
Green Party members will attend local meetings, where they will vote to elect a new co-leader.
Each branch is entitled to a certain number of votes proportionate to the number of members who live in that electorate.
The new co-leader is expected to be announced on March 10.
