Green MP Benjamin Doyle resigns

Friday, 5 September 2025

Benjamin Doyle in April, addressing the hate and death threats directed at them.

Green MP Benjamin Doyle has resigned less than a year after being sworn into Parliament, marking the loss of the party’s fifth MP and a third of its caucus.

The resignation comes amid ongoing abuse of Doyle, over now deleted social media posts which were earlier this year attacked by NZ First leader Winston Peters, who called for a police investigation.

Doyle issued a statement on Friday afternoon.

“Over the past months, I have been on a journey of healing. During this time, I have come to the realisation that I cannot complete this journey while in Parliament.

“After having baseless and violent accusations thrown at me, and an onslaught of hate, vitriol and threats of real-world violence directed at me and my whānau, I have decided to move on from Parliament.

“Whānau is the most precious thing in the world. From the start, I have always said my child is my priority. My tamati asked me to leave Parliament, and I am leaving for them and for my own wellbeing.”

An online campaign against Doyle was later revealed by The Post to have been sparked by former NZ First member Rhys Williams, from behind an anonymous social media account which relentlessly targeted political opponents with slurs, smears, and thinly veiled allegations.

Following the maelstrom in April, Doyle admitted they had paid a “huge price” for being “politically naive” but refused to be “disappeared by hate”, and pledged to stay in Parliament.

While they knew they would “face prejudice and homophobia” when coming to Parliament “I could never imagine or prepare myself to be attacked in such a baseless, personal, and violent way”, Doyle said at the time.

Doyle said on Friday they left “with pride, and that is something nobody can take away from me. It was a pleasure and a privilege to represent and work for the communities that carried me here. I am so grateful for their trust and guidance.

“I am leaving Parliament, I am not disappearing. I will continue to fight for people and planet, just not from inside this House.

“Our politics, our democracy and our Parliament should be a place for everyone. My time here has shown that we clearly still have work to do. I hope this experience is something that we can all learn and grow from.”

Doyle’s last day as an MP will be October 3.

Mike Davidson from Ilam is understood to be next on the party list.

Party in turmoil

Doyle had replaced Darleen Tana, who was ousted in October after allegations of migrant exploitation at her husband’s business which she didn’t tell the party about. This term also saw co-leader James Shaw exit politics, former MP Golriz Ghahraman resign when she was exposed for shoplifting, and the death of MP Efeso Collins.

Doyle’s elevation in the party ranks - after being sworn in in November last year - after Tana’s exit saw only a brief refresh for the party, which was then plagued by Peters’ attacks.

The party threw its support behind Doyle during the maelstrom.

Peters had drummed up outrage over Doyle’s personal Instagram page, with some post captions referencing “biblebeltbussy” ‒ bussy being a portmanteau of “boy” and “pussy” and a sexual term associated with the queer community ‒ and included one showing Doyle’s child and the caption “bussy galore”.