Green’s aide

The announcement of the departure of Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, although inevitable, raises questions about the future viability of the party. As Green MPs go, Fitzsimons was on the more conservative side. Many people trusted her personally, even if they didn’t trust or agree with her party. In the last election, a funny poll chose her as the politician that voters would most trust to babysit their children.

After her, what? The Green Party mandates one male and one female co-leader. The male co-leader, Russel Norman, took over after the sudden death of Rod Donald, who, like Fitzsimons, was also respected more than the party generally. Despite environmental activism, Norman doesn’t yet have much of a national presence or identity.

Two Green MPs have announced their candidacy so far: Metiria Turei and Sue Bradford. Turei is largely unknown among NZ voters, having entered Parliament in 2002 after working as a resource management lawyer. She’s young, Maori and seemingly not threatening to average voters but, like Norman, her emphasis has been on environmental issues.

Bradford was a leftist activist for some two decades before entering Parliament in 1999. Since then, she’s moderated her image and tone. However, she’s also closely identified with her “anti-smacking” legislation and there’s a certain segment of New Zealand who despise her and that law to the core of their being. It could become a distraction.

I’m not a Green Party supporter, so it doesn’t concern me who becomes the new female co-leader. However, as a centre-left voter, I want a strong party to serve as a coalition partner for Labour, my preferred party. But here’s the thing: Fitzsimons made me feel that I could at least think about voting for the Greens, though I never have, because she was so calm, reassuring and, well, safe. If the new leadership can’t make me feel that way, what hope will they have for winning support from more conservative voters?

Whoever becomes the next co-leader in June will have about two and half years to establish herself before the next election. If the past is any indicator, National is likely to win re-election (unless they totally screw up) because it takes two to three terms before NZ voters get sick of a party and want change. So, the Greens may have some time to rebuild and, if necessary, re-brand before they’re again within shot of being in a government coalition. That’s a good thing for them. Hopefully, it’ll be a good thing for New Zealand, too