From Oxfam to Parliament, the Green Party gets a new MP

October 7, 2016

From Oxfam to Parliament, the Green Party gets a new MP

The Green Party's newest MP Barry Coates.


The former executive director of Oxfam is replacing outgoing politician Kevin Hague who is now the chief executive of Forest and Bird.

Mr Coates, who stood in Mount Roskill in the 2014 general election, said he can not wait to get stuck in.

“There’s a whole lot of things I want to do.”

He will use his maiden speech on Wednesday to highlight issues that are close to him – climate change, trade policy, and sustainability.

“I’m going to be talking about how my experience links to the things I hope to achieve in Parliament.”

Mr Coates said he wants to act as a voice for New Zealand to do more on climate change, particularly for the sake of the Pacific. He also wants to play a role in reforming trade policy towards the Pacific but also more broadly with agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. He wants to form agreements “that are actually for the good of New Zealand and for the good of the broader aims of society."

“It means really pushing the issues of sustainable business because I think that business and economics is absolutely crucial to getting significant change and transformation in our society,” Mr Coates said. The commerce, trade, senior citizens and internal affairs portfolios will be Mr Coates’ responsibilities. Green Party co-leader James Shaw said he is really looking forward to the addition.

“I think it’s incredibly exciting,” Mr Shaw said.

“Two of the best moments of my time in Parliament have been ringing Marama [Davidson] and ringing Barry to say ‘Hey, you’re coming to Wellington’.”

Mr Shaw said Mr Coates had an amazing background and a unique set of skills and experiences that would add a lot to caucus. However, Mr Shaw said the new MP will need to rethink his wardrobe, which currently features island shirts.

“He will need to be in a suit, collared shirt and tie. It’s actually in the Standing Orders, which is bonkers, but there you have it.”

Mr Coates said he will have his own dress code.

“It may not happen on day one but it will happen after that. I’ll be trying to pioneer island shirts in Parliament but I think the dress code means that I have to wear a tie with them so I’ll have to be thinking about a culturally appropriate tie to go with my selection of island shirts.”

Green Party members, along with members of Mr Coates’ family, will travel from Auckland to attend the swearing-in. His sisters also plan to come from overseas and he will have supporters in Wellington attend.

“It’s not a massive contingent but it’ll be nice to see some [familiar] faces in the [public] gallery,” said Mr Coates.

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