Most executives in Herald survey question Greens’ coalition credibility
Two-thirds of surveyed chief executives and chairs said the Green Party’s co-leaders had not made it a credible partner for a Labour-led government.
Most chief executives and chairs surveyed for the New Zealand Herald’s 2026 Mood of the Boardroom questioned whether the Green Party could credibly join a Labour-led government in New Zealand, the Herald reported on 23 October. The finding matters because Green support could give the party influence in a future coalition, even as many of the surveyed business leaders doubt its readiness to govern.
The Herald reported that 66% of respondents said co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson had not positioned the Greens as a credible coalition partner. Another 26% said they had, while 8% were unsure. The result describes the executives and chairs surveyed; the Herald’s account did not state a sample size or methodology that would establish how widely their views are shared.
How executives rated the Green co-leaders
On a five-point measure of opposition leadership performance over the previous three years, Swarbrick received a weighted average of 2.18, compared with Davidson’s 1.69, according to the Herald. The Green Party identifies both as co-leaders and lists finance, revenue and climate change among Swarbrick’s portfolios. Davidson’s include child poverty reduction, conservation and the prevention of family and sexual violence.
Respondents offered differing judgments. One local government chief executive told the Herald that Swarbrick had impressed people at a business breakfast with her grasp of issues and openness to debate. An investment banker said the Greens could still be a credible partner for Labour despite policies the banker considered unrealistic. Others criticised the party’s economic plans or questioned whether it had moved away from its environmental focus.
Wealth tax and KiwiMart proposals drew criticism
The Herald reported criticism of the Greens’ proposed annual 2.5% tax on net wealth above NZ$10 million and its proposed government-owned supermarket chain, KiwiMart. Roger Partridge, chairman of the New Zealand Initiative, questioned whether the wealth tax could reliably raise revenue, pointing to possible capital flight, avoidance and difficulties valuing assets. Those were objections from respondents, rather than findings about what either proposal would achieve.
Other proposals received mixed scores on the survey’s five-point scale. Zero-interest loans for household solar installations averaged 2.65, and a plan to protect at least 30% of New Zealand’s marine area averaged 2.82. A proposed 5% withholding tax on profits large technology companies send offshore scored 2.40. Restoring and expanding school lunches scored 1.99, while a right to healthy food and a national food strategy scored 1.94.
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Sources and context
- Business leaders question Greens' coalition credibilityNZ Herald
- Our Members of ParliamentGreen Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.