Election 2026: Green Party MPs suffer big drops in draft list, Tamatha Paul ranked high as party hypes Māori candidates

Steve Abel, the party’s agriculture and animal welfare spokesman, was ranked ninth on the 2023 list but is now at 14.

Scott Willis, who made it into Parliament in 2023 with a ranking of 12 and has become the party’s energy spokesman, is at number 16.

Mike Davidson, the party’s newest MP, who entered Parliament after the exit of Benjamin Doyle and had a position of 19 in 2023, is down at 22.

If these positions don’t change when the final list is released, and current polling is replicated at the November 7 election, these MPs may struggle to return to Parliament.

In the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll, the Greens received 10.5%, meaning the party would win 13 seats. In nearly every reported poll over the past year, it has had enough support to secure seats in the early teens.

Candidates can be boosted between the draft and the final list.

For example, in 2023, Willis was ranked 18th in the draft list, but 12th in the final. Abel jumped from 11 to nine.

The Greens’ Steve Abel is ranked at No 14 on the party’s draft list. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Those three MPs are ranked below some new candidates.

For example, Craig Aaron Pauling, a former Environment Canterbury chair, is at 12. Bhen Goodsir, an Auckland Pride co-chair, is listed at 13.

As the Herald reported last year, former Te Pāti Māori lawyer and prominent Treaty activist Tania Waikato is standing for the Greens. She is at 15 on this list.

Former Nelson Deputy Mayor Rohan O’Neill-Steven is at 17. Justice for Palestine spokeswoman Yasmine Serhan is at 18, and former Te Pāti Māori candidate Heather Hinemoa Te Au-Skipworth is at 19.

Louise Hutt, a former Hamilton City councillor, is at 20, while Shreejan Pandey, a Monash Energy Institute director, is at 21.

In terms of those on the up, Teanau Tuiono is ranked third, up from fifth on the 2023 final list, while Paul is fourth. She has received considerable attention this term for her views on law-and-order policies.

Hūhana Lyndon is ranked sixth, up from 10th in 2023, while Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan has made a major jump from 16th to seventh. Francisco Hernandez has risen from No 17 to No 10.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said this was a “strong electable list of people who represent diverse communities”. She said they are “ready for Government”.

“Aotearoa has enough for everyone to thrive, and we can build a society that works for people and planet. Only the Greens have a plan to ensure everyone’s needs are met, and nature is healthy. With more Green MPs, we will see this vision in place across the motu.”

She said: “Our diverse Māori candidates are supported by whānau, hapū and iwi, further strengthening Māori voice in the Green Party and across the motu.

“We are proud that our list reflects the importance of Māori candidates to the party.”

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the list showed MPs “joined by candidates with experience spanning local government, education, law, green energy and community organising – to name just a few”.

The initial party list

Marama DavidsonChlöe SwarbrickTeanau TuionoTamatha PaulJulie Anne GenterHūhana Melanie Lyndon Lawrence Xu-NanLan PhamRicardo Menendez MarchFrancisco HernandezKahurangi CarterCraig Aaron PaulingBhen GoodsirSteve AbelTania WaikatoScott WillisRohan O’Neill-StevensYasmine SerhanHeather Hinemoa Te Au-SkipworthLouise HuttShreejan PandeyMike DavidsonAsher Wilson-GoldmanZephyr BrownAngela DaltonJosh JacobsenLauren CraigCarl MorganNathan Hoturoa GrayTe Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith Alika WellsCourtney WhiteAwhi HaengaPamela GrealeyAlma de AndaChris NortonMelody Willis

Jamie Ensor is the NZ Herald’s chief political reporter, based in the press gallery at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office. He was a finalist in 2025 for Political Journalist of the Year at the Voyager Media Awards.