A political newbie from Hamilton will be sworn into parliament as a Green MP soon. Who are they and what do they stand for?
Last Thursday, the Green Party voted to use the waka-jumping legislation to boot Darleen Tana out of parliament. The final call was made by speaker Gerry Brownlee yesterday, who issued a parliamentary notice that “the seat of Darleen Tana has become vacant”. Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has said Benjamin Doyle, the next person on the party’s list, will take this place. If you’re thinking “who?”, you’re not alone.
A Google search of Doyle’s name yields a page of results for the person in question (for the record, this Benjamin Doyle is not an Irish swimmer who is especially good at butterfly, nor co-creator of a web series called Jet Lag: The Game). The Greens’ Doyle was at 18 on the Green Party list on election night last year, and even given the party’s historic win of 15 seats, Doyle’s entry into parliament a year later is unexpected. The term has so far been tumultuous for the Greens, with many departures. Beyond the Tana saga there’s been Golriz Ghahraman’s resignation in the face of shoplifting allegations, Efeso Collins’ sudden death and co-leader James Shaw’s resignation. On top of those departures, co-leader Marama Davidson is currently on leave for several months while undergoing cancer treatment.
During the year, Doyle has been seen alongside current Green MPs at events like Koroneihana, joined Kahurangi Carter when she met locals and artists in Kirikiriroa, and has been outspoken about politics on their social media (“paru policy alert!” they said of the Treaty Principles Bill). Benjamin Doyle politely declined to tell me about themselves until they’re formally in the seat, but there’s still a lot that can be gleaned about them.
The basics
Doyle is Māori (Ngāpuhi, Te Kapotai, Te Popoto) and Pākehā (Scottish and Irish), uses the pronouns they/ia, is 32 years old, a parent, takatāpui and lives in Hamilton Kirikiriroa. They also identify as whaikaha (disabled). They have almost a decade’s experience working in education and a record of organising and advocating for social and environmental justice in the community.
They were 18th on the Green Party list and stood for Hamilton West in the 2023 general election. This electorate has been held by National since 2008, with the exception of a short Labour stint between 2020 and 2022. In 2023 Doyle came in fourth, with 3,230 votes. During the election campaign, they told Waikato Independent that they were ready to “roll up my sleeves and get to work on behalf of the people of Hamilton West and all New Zealanders who want a better, more sustainable future”.
Employment history
Doyle was a high school teacher for eight years in both Tāmaki Makaurau and Kirikiriroa, teaching te reo Māori and social studies including classics and art history. At Melville High they were head of Māori art, and head of social sciences at Rototuna Senior High School. They have also held dean positions.
More recently they taught through the University of Waikato – going into schools and working with teachers to address te Tiriti justice and anti-racism in education. Doyle is a kaupapa Māori researcher mostly focusing on rangatahi, tino rangatiratanga, takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ rights and education. Their masters thesis was titled “Mana Takatāpui: Self-determination for queer rangatahi Māori”.
Doyle also has experience in community organising, specifically wānanga for rangatahi Māori, artists and takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ people. Currently they work at The Burnett Foundation (previously New Zealand Aids Foundation) as the pou whakahaere Māori (senior Māori adviser).
Political positions
When asked why they were standing in the 2023 election, Doyle said they wanted to create “a society that we are proud to leave for our tamariki mokopuna”. They brought up thriving through a caring and reciprocal relationship with the environment, and enacting the promises of te Tiriti o Waitangi. They dreamed of “a society where all communities have enough to live safe, happy and fulfilling lives”.
For Policy.nz, Doyle listed their top three priorities as: advocating for more investment in better and carbon-neutral regional public transport; protecting and restoring natural habitats; and enabling people to meet their daily living needs with a guaranteed minimum income policy.
In a kōrero on the couch with Seed Waikato, Doyle enthusiastically threw themselves behind cornerstone Green policies such as combatting poverty with an income guarantee and a reformed tax system as foundations, rent controls and rental property warrants of fitness, and sustainable transport.
On social media, Doyle has shared their support of lowering the voting age to 16. They have also spoken out against anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker, saying “Posie Parker should not be allowed into Aotearoa. In letting her enter, the minister has chosen to allow hateful anti-trans rhetoric into Aotearoa. That is unacceptable.”
Doyle has spoken at rallies for Palestine in Kirikiriroa. On August 10, they said to the crowd, “We are responsible to hold those in power accountable… We are not powerless. The government wants you to feel powerless… remind them that it’s all connected.”
What we can expect
Doyle will join a new generation of Green Māori MPs (the likes of Kahurangi Carter and Tamatha Paul, with whom he appears to be very friendly) who promote decolonisation and Tiriti justice as going hand in hand with climate issues.
Doyle is clearly outspoken, having given speeches in public and online on a number of political issues this year. They’re savvy on social media, and articulate. Expect them to slot in neatly to the Greens’ team at events and on social media.
With no parliamentary experience yet, all eyes will be on how Doyle adapts to the rules and expectations of the House.