Greens choose Turei as co-leader

CHRIS SULLIVAN

HIGHLY REGARDED: Metiria Turei was long seen as Jeanette Fitzsimons' replacement as co-leader.

Relevant offers

Politics

Treaty obligations to stay in SOE sales law McCully email thief could be Kiwi PSA disappointed Key won't discuss cuts Delays in privatising ACC work account No background checks on Education ministry staff Labour fears for Kiwis in ministry shake-up The one-seat threshold Today In Politics: Thursday, February 23 Police complaint over election programme McCully's emails revealed

List MP Metiria Turei has been chosen as the Green Party's female co-leader and successor to Jeanette Fitzsimons.

The announcement was made this afternoon at the Greens' Annual General Meeting in Dunedin.

Ms Turei and Sue Bradford were the only candidates to replace Ms Fitzsimons, who formally stood down as co-leader last night.

Earlier, Ms Bradford predicted a close result but conceded Ms Turei had the edge.

Though Ms Bradford is a veteran campaigner and was ranked third on the Greens' list last year, Ms Turei, a former lawyer, has long been viewed as Ms Fitzsimons' natural successor.

It was taken as an early signal within the party that she was the heir-apparent when she moved on to the same floor as Ms Fitzsimons and co-leader Russel Norman in the Greens' offices after the election.

She has also risen rapidly through the ranks, sealing fourth spot on the party list last year. She has been an MP since 2002.

Ms Bradford entered Parliament in 1999.

Jeanette Fitzsimons stepped aside as co-leader after 14 years in the role saying it was time for a fresh face, and time for her to have more time for her family.

She is staying on in Parliament as a backbench MP.

- © Fairfax NZ News