Fitzsimons announces February resignation

Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons announced her resignation today, bringing a 13-year Parliamentary career to a close.

“It’s a good time for a change of pace,” said Ms Fitzsimons. “The caucus is in good shape. We have a good second generation of MPs joining our ranks and our co-leaders are doing good work.

“It means I can look forward to more time on the farm and with my grandchildren.”

Ms Fitzsimons, who will be replaced by Gisborne-born Gareth Hughes, stepped down as the Greens' co-leader last year and signalled then that she would not stand in the 2011 election. “The way we’ve managed the transition gives time on the job for both Metiria as a new co-leader and Gareth as a new MP,” she noted.

“The Green Party has two main roles: one is to set the political agenda, and the new leaders are doing that well, whether it's factory farming, or mining of conservation land or the need for a liveable minimum wage.

“We also co-operate with other parties to achieve good policy whenever we can, and the home insulation program is a good recent example. So the work continues and there’s a great team in Parliament to do it. We have new faces, but they represent the same values.”

Ms Fitzsimons, who celebrated her 65th birthday earlier this month, was the first Green MP to speak in Parliament following the 1996 election and is believed to be the first Green candidate in the world to win an electorate in a first-past-the-post contest, winning Coromandel in 1999.

In 1998, Ms Fitzsimons introduced the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act which became the first Green legislation passed in New Zealand. Approved in May 2000, it has provided a framework for sustainable energy policy in Aotearoa and has saved New Zealand households more than $148 million on their power bills so far.

Other achievements include leading negotiations to implement the $323 million home insulation scheme that is making 180,000 New Zealand homes warmer and drier; leading the climate change debate in New Zealand, in particular around targets, emissions trading and other complementary policies; working with governments to increase funding for public transport, cycling and walking, and to electrify the Auckland rail system; develop vehicle fuel-economy labelling; and a commitment to fuel economy standards.

The Party co-leaders said the Green caucus was determined to emulate Ms Fitzsimons’ success. “Jeanette’s expertise and her work ethic are legendary,” said Russel Norman. “It’s a challenge for any of us to match those standards, but a challenge we embrace.”

Ms Fitzsimons’ successor as co-leader, Metiria Turei said: “Jeanette helped build New Zealand’s third-largest political party and built it to last. Our job is to be good stewards over the next generation, to stay true to our values and gather even more support for the Green Party and its ideas.”

The 28-year-old Gareth Hughes will be the youngest MP in the House. Originally from Gisborne, Mr Hughes currently works in Auckland but plans to move to Wellington. The father of one is an experienced environmental advocate and campaigner and holds a degree in Religious Studies, Politics and History from Victoria University. He comes to Parliament from a job with Greenpeace where, most recently, he coordinated the Sign On campaign gathering the support of more than 200,000 Kiwis for bolder government action on climate change.