Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has breast cancer, she has announced.
The grandmother-of-two and mother-of-six made the announcement at Parliament today surrounded by her Green Party colleagues.
She said it had been caught early and treatment will begin soon.
She will undergo a partial mastectomy at the start of July and will take leave from Parliament. She intended to work through to Matariki and then will spend time with family.
Recovery would take about four months but she was not exactly sure when she’d return to work.
Davidson, 50, has been an MP for nine years — first elected in 2015.
Davidson is set to undergo treatment at the start of July and will take leave from Parliament.
In April 2018, she succeeded Metiria Turei as Greens co-leader, working alongside James Shaw until Chlöe Swarbrick succeeded him this year.
She was the first Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, taking on the role under the last Labour Government. The role has continued — it is now held by ACT Party MP Karen Chhour.
Prior to becoming an MP, Davidson worked for the Human Rights Commission for nine years.
She has whakapapa to Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, and Ngāti Porou. Her father is actor Rawiri Paratene — of Whale Rider fame — and she is married to Paul Davidson.
Speaking to reporters today, she said despite everything she felt very good and grateful for the “incredible care and support” she had received.
She said the diagnosis had focused her and strengthened her resolve to make a difference, and she also impressed upon people to get mammograms if they were eligible as early detection was crucial.
She would stay on as co-leader.
“I will be asking Green Party delegates at the upcoming annual general meeting to vote for me for co-leader, in the full knowledge that I will be taking some months off and the full trust that I will be returning with fierce determination to fight for people and planet.”
Davidson also paid tribute to health workers. “I really want to honour them.”
Swarbrick was told the news a couple of weeks ago, and said Davidson was one of the strongest people she knew.
“I cannot begin to express just how proud I am to stand alongside her.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his thoughts were with Davidson and her family.
“I wish her all the very best for a speedy recovery and hope she can join us in Parliament again soon.”
Labour’s Chris Hipkins echoed those comments.
“We tautoko her message – don’t put off being checked. I am relieved for Marama, her family, friends and colleagues by her comment that this was picked up early.
“I am pleased to hear she will return to continue her work as a Member of Parliament, and we look forward to seeing her back later this year.
“Politics can be robust, but we are all human. It’s moments like these that remind us of that.”
Ah-Leen Rayner, chief executive of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, said: “Our thoughts are with Marama and her whānau as she starts her treatment journey, and we wish her a full and speedy recovery.
“We’re also grateful to Marama for highlighting the importance of early detection as this can give you the best chance of survival. If your breast cancer is detected via mammogram, your 10-year survival can be as high as 95%.
“That’s why we encourage women to make sure they book in for their regular free mammograms from age 45 to 69. Women of all ages need to get to know the normal look and feel of their breasts so they can see a GP quickly if they notice any unusual changes – we call that being ‘breast aware”.
