Farewell James.

Stories yet unwritten.

Oh boy.

I don’t think anything has brought home to me just how long we’re going to have this new government, or underlined the fact that the last one has gone, as the resignation of James Shaw.

It’s not hard to understand that he can probably make more of a difference in another role, than the one that he’d be permitted in parliament for the next few years. James stands down from the leadership under his own terms, and after nine years as co-leader who can blame him for wanting to put his family first.

Even people that are trying to save the planet get to put their family first sometimes.

Shaw leaves in the rarest of circumstances, he seems well regarded and respected across the house. At a time like this, with a tough competitor stepping aside, you can see the best in people. I thought the following message, from one gentleman to another, was a goodie.

James has not only been liked and respected by other politicians but he’s been that rarest of creatures, quite possibly unique, in that even people who didn’t support the Greens felt that James was someone reliable, someone they could trust.

He could leave the activist at the door, when it made sense to, and work constructively and collaboratively towards lasting solutions. Looking to achieve bipartisan support where possible to ensure the longevity of the changes agreed.

He has been the Greenie that actually looked like a politician.

Which of course meant that from time to time there were grumblings within the Greens, encouraged by the media, as to whether James was quite Green enough.

Not in terms of his passion for the environment, and his determination to address climate change. Those were second to none. But whether his face was a good fit.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespeshaw

You know what I’m saying. For goodness sake he’s a middle aged, white, heterosexual male in a suit - isn’t that everything the Greens oppose?

Well no. I’m sorry to say that the Greens aren’t perhaps quite as woke or as inflexible as reports would suggest.

They’re a diverse group, and one that looks a lot like Aotearoa to me. There’s room for everyone, and if the party looks a bit more diverse than some others, if there is by comparison an under representation of straight white males, well maybe that balances things out a bit.

Some people really don’t like the Greens very much. I look at people like James and Marama, the things they say and stand for, and I struggle to understand why people would instead prefer the likes of Luxon, Seymour, and Peters. But whatever people think of the party, many would agree that they’ve had some pretty good co-leaders.

Hmm, looks like someone needs to update Wikipedia.

Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald, Russel Norman and Metiria Turei, and until now Marama Davidson and James Shaw. I have enormous regard for all of them, and none more so than James who has left his mark.

As you’ve quite possibly picked up in my writing, I’m a member and supporter of the Green Party. Definitely of the Watermelon variety, as the old joke goes. You know - green on the outside and red in the centre. You can read more about that, and the Greens here:

James led the party into government for the first time with its first cabinet ministers. A proud moment for those of us who had long supported the party, but seen it fall short of such an achievement previously.

When he took on the co-leader role Shaw said that he committed “to taking the Greens into Government and then safely out the other side”. He has been good to his word.

My strongest memory of James is the evening of the 2017 election. It had been a horrendous campaign after Metiria Turei was forced to resign just six weeks out from the election, with James fighting the campaign as the sole leader.

That night James looked utterly exhausted. Without his co-leader alongside him, in the wake of a scandal blown out of proportion. He’d had the media speculating throughout the campaign that the party would fall below the five percent threshold. It felt like James had managed to keep the party in parliament almost single handedly.

But for his efforts, if the Greens had slipped below the threshold and out of parliament, there would have been no Jacinda Ardern government in 2017. Bill English would’ve formed the government.

James Shaw and Jacinda Ardern. Photo: Richard Tindiller/RNZ.

James said at the time, “this has been the fight of our lives”. I’m grateful that he fought so hard, his efforts changed the direction of Aotearoa over these last six years.

So why go now?

More to the point, I suppose, is why not? If you’re not committed to seeing out not only the next three years, but the three after that, assuming you manage to get back into power, then what are you waiting for?

James hasn’t waited, and he is leaving under his own terms at a time that makes sense in terms of the political cycle, and also, presumably, for his family. Six years is a mighty long time and a heck of a commitment on top of what he has already done.

I’m not sure James has always enjoyed his interactions with the media. He’s often had to defend colleagues, or difficult situations, and he’s always done so calmly and with good humour. Such was his tweet today. Echoing a word used by some in the past to prematurely announce his departure.

The timeframe I mention does presuppose that the current coalition doesn’t implode before that. But while it’s fair to say that it has been constructed from some explosive components you’d be hard pushed to make major life decisions based on the possibility of a collapse. However strong it is with Winston and Seymour in the mix.

How are the Greens doing?

There’s no getting away from it, this has been a rough start to the year for the Greens with Golriz Ghahraman departing and now James Shaw stepping down as co-leader.

But that’s tempered by the fact that the Greens had their best ever election result in October, bringing new MPs through. In the context of a large swing away from the left, that was a remarkable result and I thought James and Marama ran an exceptional campaign. I haven’t seen a better one.

James Shaw and Marama Davidson. Photo / Michael Craig.

If you were uncharitable you might say there was mostly a swing away from Labour, but as I’ve written about a few times I don’t see that being of primary consideration. As far as I’m concerned Labour and the Greens are in this together, and the most important thing is their combined party vote, not who got what.

Having said that the last six years have seen an unusually cordial period between the two parties. With much of that built initially on the good friendship between Jacinda Ardern and James Shaw, I can’t help but wonder if that might lessen to a degree. It’s a rough job fighting from the opposition benches.

One thing the Greens will need to consider is how to divide responsibilities between a new leadership team. Co-leaders can be confusing, people don’t always know who’s in charge on a particular matter. With James and Marama there was a clear delineation, he was the go to person for environmental issues, and she for social issues.

So who will be the next co-leader?

You’re kidding, right?

There’s a gigantic elephant in the room, and has been for some time. By the name of Chlöe Swarbrick. For a long while it has felt like a matter of when, not if, she would become co-leader. Quite frankly if she doesn’t want it now, what’s she waiting for?

Green co-leader James Shaw and Chlöe Swarbrick hours after Shaw announced his resignation. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

If she does want it, well, we all know it’s hers. C’mon, it just is.

If Chlöe puts her hat in the ring then I’d be surprised, and to be honest pretty disappointed, if anyone else puts their hand up too.

The last thing the Greens need now is any further suggestion of instability or disunity, and you’d have to question the motivation of anyone putting themselves forward in a vote that has only one possible winner.

It is conceivable that Chlöe might prefer to continue focussing on the issues, rather than taking on the burden of leadership. But I’d be amazed if she doesn’t take the top job at this time.

She’s an outstanding politician. A great hope and inspiration to people of her generation, and also to some of us who are considerably older. Getting to the top must surely be part of the plan, even if she wouldn’t have chosen this timing.

Aside from her own personal ambitions it’s critical for the Green Party that she take on the co-leadership. The senior team will want her in that role. Chlöe has a huge profile, especially among those who’ve grown up under MMP and who must be a target demographic for the Greens.

Should Chlöe decide that now is not the time then the only other person I can see that could credibly take on the role, in terms of experience, would by Julie Anne Genter.

Julie Anne challenged for the co-leader role the last time it was available, and she is a highly talented and hardworking MP. Whether she would want it now is perhaps another matter, but likely a moot one in any case.

James Shaw Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly.

I hope that when James leaves parliament people treat him with the respect that he deserves. The respect that everybody deserves.

When someone recognises him at the beach, or at a cafe, I hope they give him a grin or a nod and say something like, “You know, I didn’t vote for you, but I reckon you were one of the good ones eh.”

Those of us who do vote for the Greens know that he did us proud. That parliament will be the poorer without him and would be a much better place with more people like him.

I have no doubt that James will be a great success in whatever he chooses to do next. As will Chlöe, assuming she takes on the mantle of co-leadership alongside Marama. I’ll look forward to seeing those chapters yet unwritten.

But I can’t help feeling sad that this very good man, a true gentleman, and someone I have great respect for, is moving on. Go well James.

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