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Tuesday, November 11, 2025

David Farrar: A very smart move by the Greens


Radio NZ reports:

Former Green MP Kevin Hague is returning to politics to be the party’s new chief of staff.

In a social media post on Thursday, Hague said he was coming “out of retirement” to take up the role after Eliza Prestidge-Oldfield stepped down.

Hague said his home would remain on the West Coast, but he would also be setting up a “second base” in the capital.

“Got any furniture you want to sell? I will pick up the reins in a couple of weeks.”

Hague entered Parliament as a list MP in 2008. Despite being considered a frontrunner for the party’s co-leadership in 2015, he was beaten by James Shaw.

Hague left a year later to become the chief executive of environmental organisation Forest and Bird.

I know Kevin reasonably well. I worked with him on the same sex marriage law change, and friends like Nikki Kaye worked very closely with him on adoption law reform.

Kevin is a smart politically – he understands both strategy and tactics. He is also experienced at working with people from across the political spectrum. All very good attributes for a Chief of Staff.

I predict the turnover of Green staffers will now end.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.

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