The film about the Greens co-leader is now a full election cycle overdue.<\/p>\n
Due for release two years ago, a contentious documentary on Green Party co-leader Chl\u00f6e Swarbrick has been delayed again, with the date pushed out another year.<\/p>\n
The Spinoff can reveal the film will now be released following the 2026 election, after questions were put to Sky \u2013 which owns the television rights for the film. A spokesperson told The Spinoff the film was in post-production, but as it was election year, the decision had been made to postpone the release.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the nature of the content (including that the subject of the documentary is now the co-leader of the Green Party) and the upcoming election, we\u2019re mindful of broadcasting regulations and have decided that we will not schedule the documentary prior to the 2026 election.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cWe will confirm more details on the documentary and its airdate once it is complete,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
Directed by Charlotte Evans, the film, Being Chl\u00f6e, has been controversial as it secured $199,000 in NZ On Air funding in 2021 \u2013 and an additional $20,000 from the NZ Film Commission. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and the Act Party have publicly disapproved of the taxpayer funding for the film.<\/p>\n
The film was originally set to be released after the 2023 election.<\/p>\n
Chl\u00f6e Swarbrick (Photo: Benjamin Brooking)<\/p>\n
The film follows Swarbrick in her personal and work life in the lead up to the 2023 election, before she was the Green party\u2019s co-leader. She was then third on the Greens list and the youngest MP in parliament. It has been billed as a follow up to the 2020 documentary OK Chl\u00f6e, which examined Swarbrick\u2019s life in parliament, as well as her personal life and mental health.<\/p>\n