[6] Coates was the Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand from September 2003,[7] and he stepped down on 7 March 2014 to contest the general election for the Green Party in the Mount Roskill electorate.

[4] He subsequently developed a programme on sustainability for the University of Auckland Business School, and was Coordinator of "It's Our Future", the campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

[12] His comments were challenged by co-leader James Shaw who stated that forcing a hung parliament or second election was "absolutely not" the party's position.

[15] In October 2019, Coates praised the Sustainable Finance Forum's draft report advocating ethical investment particularly the transition towards a low-emissions economy and inclusiveness.

Coates disagreed with Cumin's assertion, saying that Mindful Matters was focusing on companies violating ethical standards and international humanitarian and human rights laws.