Greens Party co-leader James Shaw and Auckland Central candidate Chlöe Swarbrick at the climate safe communities public meeting in Auckland on 30 September, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter
A political commentator says Green Party co-leader James Shaw was a friend of the Pacific.
"He really helped large ocean states have a voice" - Political commentator Thomas Wynne
Shaw, who was previously New Zealand's climate change minister for six years, announced he will be stepping aside as party co-leader in March.
Political commentator Thomas Wynne told RNZ Pacific that Shaw was unashamedly focused on climate change.
"If one is realistic, one can do one job really, really well and Parliament can put you across a whole range of work and sometimes you don't do at all well because your focus is somewhere else," Wynne said.
"But James was really clear about what he wanted to do and what his focus was, I think his legacy around climate change will be long lasting."
Wynne said Shaw supported Vanuatu seeking an advisory ruling from the International Court of Justice on climate change and human rights.
He said is legacy around climate change will be long lasting in the Pacific.
"In the Pacific everything is around relationship and James had a good relationship with the nations in the Pacific.
"I think locally, our younger Pacific voter really leaned into the principles and values of the Green Party."