Newstalk ZB
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: Marama Davidson Chlöe Swarbrick Teanau Tuiono Tamatha Paul Julie Anne Genter Lan Pham Hūhana Melanie Lyndon Lawrence Xu-Nan Ricardo Menéndez March Francisco Hernandez Kahurangi Carter Steve Abel Tania Waikato Craig Aaron Pauling Scott Willis Rohan O’Neill-Stevens Bhen Goodsir Yasmine Serhan Louise Hutt Mike Davidson Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth Shreejan Pandey Lauren Craig Zephyr Brown Josh Jacobsen Angela Dalton Alika Wells Carl Morgan Courtney White Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith Awhi Haenga Melody Willis Pamela Grealey Alma de Anda Chris Norton Initial list: Marama Davidson Chlöe Swarbrick Teanau Tuiono Tamatha Paul Julie Anne Genter Hūhana Melanie Lyndon Lawrence Xu-Nan Lan Pham Ricardo Menendez March Francisco Hernandez Kahurangi Carter Craig Aaron Pauling Bhen Goodsir Steve Abel Tania Waikato Scott Willis Rohan O’Neill-Stevens Yasmine Serhan Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth Louise Hutt Shreejan Pandey Mike Davidson Asher Wilson-Goldman Zephyr Brown Angela Dalton Josh Jacobsen Lauren Craig Carl Morgan Nathan Hoturoa Gray Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith Alika Wells Courtney White Awhi Haenga Pamela Grealey Alma de Anda Chris Norton 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.
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