Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has breast cancer

Monday, 17 June 2024

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has breast cancer and will be taking leave in July to have treatment.

Davidson felt “fortunate” the cancer had been caught early and said she intended to stay on as co-leader. She reiterated her commitment to return to Parliament to fight for “people and planet”, ahead of a party delegates’ vote scheduled for the party’s annual general meeting this month.

Davidson made public her diagnosis at an unexpected press conference at Parliament on Monday morning, starting off: “Just over a month ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s office at one of those appointments you always hope you’ll never need.”

The Green Party caucus stood behind the co-leader for the announcement.

A visibly emotional Davidson said she would be receiving treatment and working through to Matariki weekend, before taking leave from June 29. She would spend time with family before a scheduled surgery, a partial mastectomy.

“I expect treatment and recovery may take around four months but I am not yet able to confirm when I will return to Parliament.”

She referenced a delegate’s vote set to take place in June, at the party’s annual general meeting.

“I will be asking…delegates…to vote for me for co-leader in the full knowledge that I will be taking some months off and the full trust that I will be returning with fierce determination.”

The cancer was caught during a routine mammogram, which then triggered a biopsy. She thanked some people who had reminded her to get into the mammogram system, having been overdue for this, at a breakfast event she’d attended to raise awareness of breast cancer.

“I want to thank them.” She had got a screening, “because of their insistence.”

Davidson urged others to get themselves checked, but said it was “deeply unfair” and sad that not everyone in Aotearoa had access to the same support she had had, “and how much better off we all could be if we put our values of care into action not only at a person level but as a country.

“Despite everything, I am feeling good. Mostly I am feeling grateful for the incredible care and support. If anything this diagnosis has given me even more passion and energy to do the mahi that needs to be done. It has really focussed on me.”

Davidson’s diagnosis is the latest blow in a difficult year for the Green Party.

MP Darleen Tana was suspended in March after claims regarding alleged migrant exploitation at her husband’s business, currently the subject of an independent investigation.

Senior Green MP Golriz Ghahraman resigned in January when it emerged she had been shoplifting designer clothing. She pleaded guilty to four charges of shoplifting in March, and is yet to be sentenced.

Another long-standing Green MP, Julie Anne Genter, was subject to a privileges complaint at Parliament for crossing the floor and standing over National MP Matt Doocey during a debate. Genter said she was undertaking de-escalation training.

In February, first term Green MP Efeso Collins died suddenly during a charity event ageg 50. Green MPs were deeply grieved over the loss.

And Green Party co-leader James Shaw resigned from the co-leadership and was replaced by Chlöe Swarbrick in March. Shaw then left Parliament in May.

Speaking this morning, coleader Chlöe Swarbrick said the caucus had had “an incredibly rough time” [but] “I think you can see our caucus has stuck together. We have incredibly hardworking powerful people behind us.”

Davidson had told her about the diagnosis a few weeks ago. “I cannot begin to express how proud I am to stand alongside her, and to do the work and the job of holding the space for her to return.”

In a statement on behalf of the party, Labour leader Chris Hipkins wished Davidson the best.

“We tautoko her message – don’t put off being checked. I am relieved for Marama, her family, friends and colleagues by her comment that this was picked up early.

“I am pleased to hear she will return to continue her work as a Member of Parliament, and we look forward to seeing her back later this year.

“Politics can be robust, but we are all human. It’s moments like these that remind us of that.”