Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says she believes her party is uniquely positioned to cut through “dominant, divisive politics” seen overseas despite several traditional left-leaning political parties falling out of favour globally.
Davidson, who’s nine months into her breast cancer recovery, spoke to Q+A earlier today, claiming that New Zealand could be a “leading light” with her party’s brand of politics.
“There are some very real frustrations that some political leaders are exploiting and pitting people against each other, when instead, New Zealand can be a leading light.
“We have proven time and time again that we resist that divisive, hateful politics that the rest of the world are playing,” she said.
“Our communities who have had it rough for generations can have power. We can cut through the dominant, divisive politics that is happening around the world. We can pull on our values of looking after each other better, and that’s where our power lies.”
Davidson affirmed she was committed to standing at the next election.
“I am committed to standing and to getting us the most caring government that we have ever seen in Aotearoa.”
She said the Greens’ focus on a “politics of care” were more relevant now than ever against a system that “concentrates power and wealth into the hands of the few”.
Davidson also restated her party’s opposition to New Zealand joining pillar two of AUKUS and the Five Eyes surveillance alliance. She cited Donald Trump’s recent heated verbal fight with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, which stunned world leaders.
“This paints a picture even more so of why we have to really reject AUKUS and not tie ourselves to a leader who is behaving exactly the opposite of promoting diplomacy.
“Our moves as a country should be – promoting diplomacy and peace, and not tying ourselves to the military agendas of other countries.”
February’s 1News Verian Poll suggested the left bloc – Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori – could win enough seats in Parliament to form a coalition government.
At the time, National leader Christopher Luxon rejected the notion he was leading a one-term government, saying the previous Labour administration – which included the Greens as part of a cooperation agreement – left a “hell of a mess” for his coalition to clean up.
For the full interview, watch the video above
Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
