The Young Greens of Aotearoa New Zealand (or simply Young Greens) is the youth wing of the
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand ( mi, Rōpū Kākāriki o Aotearoa, Niu Tireni), commonly known as the Greens, is a green and left-wing political party in New Zealand. Like many green parties around the world, it has four organisational ...
, and a member of the
Global Young Greens. The Young Greens represent Green Party members 35 years of age and under. The Young Greens were founded by MP and then Young Green
Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes (23 August 1894 – 1 October 1965) was a Welsh stage and silent screen actor. Usually cast as a callow, sensitive hero in Hollywood silent films, Hughes got his start on stage during childhood and continued to play youthful lead ...
in 2006.
Activities
Campaigns
The Young Greens have been involved in several different political campaigns, particularly around issues that affect youth. These include Keep It 18, which opposed raising the drinking age from 18 to 21; and petitioning
parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
to ban
conversion therapy
Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. In contrast to evidence-based medicine and cl ...
, in a joint effort with fellow youth wing
Young Labour.
Summer camp
Each summer, a camp is traditionally held at
Jeanette Fitzsimons
Jeanette Mary Fitzsimons (née Gaston; 17 January 1945 – 5 March 2020) was a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. She was the co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand from 1995 to 2009, and was a Member of Parliament from ...
' farm in the
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula ( mi, Te Tara-O-Te-Ika-A-Māui) on the North Island of New Zealand extends north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier protecting the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the ...
.
Structure
Executive
The Young Greens have a national executive, consisting of two co-convenors, a secretary, a membership secretary, a treasurer, Pou Tikanga, two social media coordinators, a
Global Young Greens representatives, an equity officer, and a campus co-ordinator.
Campus groups
The Young Greens have a presence at New Zealand's largest universities. As of 2018, there are Young Green campus groups at 7 universities.
Office holders
Current members of parliament
*
Chlöe Swarbrick
Chlöe Charlotte Swarbrick (born 26 June 1994) is a New Zealand politician. Following a high-profile but unsuccessful run for the 2016 Auckland mayoral election, she became a parliamentary candidate for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, ...
(2017–present)
*
Ricardo Menéndez March
Ricardo Menéndez March (born ) is a New Zealand activist and politician who, since 2020, is a Member of Parliament for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand in the House of Representatives.
Early life and career
The son of a Mexican father ...
(2020–present)
Former members of parliament
*
Holly Walker
Holly Ruth Walker (born 15 November 1982) is a former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014, as a Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Green Party list MP. She is deputy Director of Helen Clark Foundation, The He ...
(2011–2014)
*
Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes (23 August 1894 – 1 October 1965) was a Welsh stage and silent screen actor. Usually cast as a callow, sensitive hero in Hollywood silent films, Hughes got his start on stage during childhood and continued to play youthful lead ...
(2010–2020)
Co-convenors
* 2007 –
Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes (23 August 1894 – 1 October 1965) was a Welsh stage and silent screen actor. Usually cast as a callow, sensitive hero in Hollywood silent films, Hughes got his start on stage during childhood and continued to play youthful lead ...
* 2008 –
Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes (23 August 1894 – 1 October 1965) was a Welsh stage and silent screen actor. Usually cast as a callow, sensitive hero in Hollywood silent films, Hughes got his start on stage during childhood and continued to play youthful lead ...
/Luke Stewart
* 2009 – Georgina Morrison and Zack Dorner
* 2010 –
Holly Walker
Holly Ruth Walker (born 15 November 1982) is a former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014, as a Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Green Party list MP. She is deputy Director of Helen Clark Foundation, The He ...
and Aaryn Barlow
* 2011 – Brooklynne Kennedy and
Vernon Tava
Vernon Ivan Tava is a barrister living in Auckland, New Zealand. He is the founder and leader of the Sustainable New Zealand Party and a former candidate for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Education and business career
Vernon Tava gr ...
* 2012 – Izzy Lomax-Sawyers and Jackson James Wood
* 2013 – Lucy Gordon and Philip Nannestad
* 2014 – Terri Gough and Zane McCarthy
* 2015 – Ana Martin and Zane McCarthy
* 2016 – Ana Martin and Ben Ogilvie/
Ricardo Menéndez March
Ricardo Menéndez March (born ) is a New Zealand activist and politician who, since 2020, is a Member of Parliament for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand in the House of Representatives.
Early life and career
The son of a Mexican father ...
* 2017 – Meg Williams and Elliot Crossan
* 2018 – Mona Oliver and Max Tweedie
* 2019 – Kelsey Lee and Danielle Marks
* 2020 – Matariki Roche and Danielle Marks
* 2021 – Lourdes Vano and Rohan O'Neill-Stevens
* 2022 – Gina Dao-McLay and M Grace-Stent
Notable alumni
*
Ricardo Menéndez March
Ricardo Menéndez March (born ) is a New Zealand activist and politician who, since 2020, is a Member of Parliament for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand in the House of Representatives.
Early life and career
The son of a Mexican father ...
– Member of Parliament
*
Holly Walker
Holly Ruth Walker (born 15 November 1982) is a former member of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2011 to 2014, as a Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, Green Party list MP. She is deputy Director of Helen Clark Foundation, The He ...
– Member of Parliament
*
Gareth Hughes
Gareth Hughes (23 August 1894 – 1 October 1965) was a Welsh stage and silent screen actor. Usually cast as a callow, sensitive hero in Hollywood silent films, Hughes got his start on stage during childhood and continued to play youthful lead ...
– Member of Parliament
*
Vernon Tava
Vernon Ivan Tava is a barrister living in Auckland, New Zealand. He is the founder and leader of the Sustainable New Zealand Party and a former candidate for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Education and business career
Vernon Tava gr ...
– leader of
Sustainable New Zealand Party
Further reading
The Young Greens holding space at the table- a short documentary following the group's co-leaders prior to the 2020 election
See also
*
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand ( mi, Rōpū Kākāriki o Aotearoa, Niu Tireni), commonly known as the Greens, is a green and left-wing political party in New Zealand. Like many green parties around the world, it has four organisational ...
*
Global Young Greens
References
External links
Official website
{{NZ Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Youth politics
Youth wings of green parties
Youth wings of political parties in New Zealand