James Shaw steps down as Green co-leader, to ease out of politics
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
James Shaw has laid out plans to retire from politics, saying he will resign as Green Party co-leader in March.
The former climate minister said he’d remain an MP to see one last piece of legislation through, and would then plan to depart Parliament.
Shaw co-led the Green Party for almost nine years, alongside Metiria Turei and Marama Davidson. From 2017 to 2023, he served as minister for climate change, passing the Zero Carbon Act.
“I’m standing down because I feel that my time here and work here is complete,” Shaw told reporters at Parliament.
“It has been the privilege of my lifetime.”
Shaw said he would remain in Parliament to see through his private member’s bill, that was pulled from the ballot shortly before the Christmas break. His bill, the Bill of Rights (Right to a Sustainable Environment) Amendment Bill, would make access to sustainable environment a core human right.
From Wednesday, the Green Party would start its hunt for a new co-leader with nominations opening. The leadership contest would take over a month, involving party meetings with members across the country and membership vote. The new co-leader was set to be announced on March 10.
Shaw said the Zero Carbon Act had been a highlight of his career in Parliament.
“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 1.5’C target in national legislation,” he said.
“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.”
A focus on “consensus building” has been vital to achieving sustained change, Shaw said, which saw him compromise with the National and Labour parties to achieve legislative change.
Green co-leader Marama Davidson said Shaw had spoken to her “some time” ago about his intention to resign after the election.
“He's given his life and he's given blood to this mahi, and I am now happy that he gets to go to the beach,” Davidson said.
Former and current MPs from both sides of Parliament paid tribute to Shaw’s career.
Former finance minister Grant Robertson said he expected there would be “much more to do” for Shaw.
In Parliament, Robertson said, “His efforts to build consensus and make progress on climate action have been enormous. On top of being one of the smartest people I know, he is a truly courageous.”
Shaw would not say on Tuesday what his plans for the future were, although he said he hoped to continue working in an environmental field. He noted that he had not set a resignation date as an MP, given he planned to stay to see his bill debated.