Green Party pushes Pacific voice with strong election list

Pacific representation is back in focus ahead of New Zealand’s 2026 election with the Green Party putting forward one of its strongest line-ups yet.

Four Pacific candidates have been ranked in the party’s top 30 list, led by sitting MP Teanau Tuiono at number three.

This is a sign the party says it aims to deepen its connection with Pacific communities.

Greens co-leader Marama Davidson told journalists the party wants Pacific communities to “see their home with us”.

“We want to ensure that all communities and especially the Pacific can see their home with us,” Davidson said.

“We are the party advocating for more accessible travel between Pacific nations and Aotearoa… I hope to see us looking to be more relevant and present across Pacific issues as well.”

Listen to Teanau Tuiono's interview below.

Tuiono, who rose from number five in 2023 to number three, remains a key Pacific voice within the party.

He holds several portfolios including Defence, Foreign Affairs, Pacific Peoples, and Oceans and Fisheries.

He is joined in the top 30 by Tania Waikato at 13, Zephyr Brown at 24, and Te Whatanui Kipa Leka Taumalolo Skipwith at 30. They have links across the Pacific including Tonga, the Cook Islands, Hawai’i, and Sāmoa.

Green Party co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson. Photo/Supplied

Skipwith is from Tonga, the island of Vava'u and villages of Neiafu and Holonga, Tuiono is from Atiu, Brown is from Pangai, Ha'apai and Waikato has recently discovered Pacific roots to Hawai’i and Sāmoa.

For the Greens, the list is more than just rankings. They say it reflects a broader push to build trust and visibility in Pacific communities after past criticism.

Following the last election, some Pacific volunteers raised concerns about how they were treated within the party.

Davidson acknowledged those concerns but said change was already happening from within.

“I'm really proud of the leadership that grassroots Pacific and South Auckland members are bringing to the party to show that this is a really good political home for Pacific people.”

Davidson also pointed to Tuiono’s work in Parliament including his role in advancing changes to Western Sāmoan citizenship laws. His member’s bill, which gained support across Parliament, has helped grant New Zealand citizenship to hundreds of Sāmoans.

Teanau Tuiono has over 20 years experience as an activist, an advocate, and organiser at local, national, and international levels. Photo/Supplied

Climate advocacy for Pacific nations has also been a key focus as rising sea levels and extreme weather continue to impact the region.

The Greens say their 2026 line-up reflects a wider ambition, not just to grow their numbers in Parliament but to play a central role in the next government.

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the party plans to contest more electorates strongly this year and is aiming to return with its largest caucus yet.

For Pacific voters, the message from the Greens is clear: they want to be seen as a political home. Whether that message lands could play a key role in shaping the party’s support in 2026.