[16] The party's ideology combines environmentalism with social democratic economic policies,[1] including well-funded and locally controlled public services within the confines of a steady-state economy.

In recent times, it has expressed concerns about mining of national parks,[22] fresh water,[23] peak oil[24] and the release of genetically engineered organisms.

[25] The party strongly supports efforts to address climate change based on scientific evidence, by transitioning away from the burning of fossil fuels to renewable energy production,[26] as well as making carbon pricing more transparent and bringing the agricultural sector into the Emissions Trading Scheme.

[27] The Green Party has spoken out in support of human rights[28] and against military operations conducted by the United States and other countries in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[35] In its economic policies, the Green Party stresses factors such as sustainability, taxing the indirect costs of pollution, and fair trade.

[43][46] While it gained a measure of public support in several elections, the then first-past-the-post electoral system meant that the party did not win any seats in the House of Representatives.

The following year, the Greens became co-founding members of the Alliance, a five-party grouping that also consisted of the Democrats, Liberals, Mana Motuhake and NewLabour Party.

[56] After New Zealand adopted the mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system in 1996, the Alliance gained entry to Parliament, bringing three Green list MPs with them: Jeanette Fitzsimons, Rod Donald and Phillida Bunkle.

[59] During the ten days it took to count special votes and confirm Fitzsimons' election, Labour concluded a coalition agreement with the Alliance which excluded the Greens.

[60] Over the term, the Greens developed a good working relationship with the government and also had some input into policy, notably Sue Bradford's amendments to the Employment Relations Act 2000.

Despite expressing clear support for a Labour-led government during the campaign,[66][67] they were excluded from the resulting coalition, due to a refusal by United Future and NZ First to work with the Greens in cabinet.

However, Rod Donald died the day before Parliament was due to sit and the position of government spokesperson on Buy Kiwi Made was filled by Sue Bradford.

Metiria Turei was elected at the 2009 annual general meeting after former female co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons stood down as an MP in February 2009.

[79] In their 2017 election campaign launch on 9 July 2017, the Green Party proposed charging bottling companies a 10% tax for exporting water, with the revenue being split between local councils and Māori tribes or iwi.

[80] In July 2017, co-leader Metiria Turei criticised the populist New Zealand First party and its leader Winston Peters for alleged racism, particularly towards immigration.

[81] List MP Barry Coates penned an article in the left-wing "The Daily Blog" claiming that the Greens would call a snap election rather than be excluded from a prospective Labour and New Zealand First coalition government.

[82] Turei and Coates' comments were fiercely criticised by both Peters and New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin, who warned that this would affect post-election negotiations between the two parties.

[83][84] On 16 July, in order to raise awareness of the inadequacies of the welfare system, Turei disclosed that she had committed benefit fraud in the past.

[96][97] On 17 August, it was reported that the Green Party had fallen by 11 points to 4% in the 1News–Colmar Brunton Poll, below the 5% threshold needed to enter Parliament under New Zealand's mixed-member proportional system.

[106][107] In October 2017, the Greens entered a confidence and supply arrangement with the Labour Party which gave them three ministers outside cabinet and one under-secretary role.

[110] As a support partner of the Labour-New Zealand First coalition government, the Greens secured several policies and concessions including a proposed Zero Carbon Act, a referendum on legalising personal cannabis use by 2020, establishing a proposed Climate Commission, a proposed Green Transport Card to reduce public transportation costs, investing in rail and cycle infrastructure, light rail construction to Auckland Airport, increasing the Department of Conservation's funding, eliminating "excessive" benefit sanctions and the gender pay gap, a rent-to-own-scheme as part of KiwiBuild, and re-establishing the Mental Health Commission.

"[117][118] On 2 November, it was reported that the Government had reached an agreement with the school's owners, Michael and Rachel Perrett, for the NZ$11.7 million grant to be converted into a loan; a development that was welcomed by local principals.

[119][120] During the 2020 New Zealand general election held on 17 October, the Greens returned to Parliament with 7.9% of the popular vote, giving them ten seats.

[127] On 20 October, Newshub reported that Ardern was not seeking a formal coalition between Labour and the Green Party but was exploring a lower-level support arrangement.

[133] On 19 May, Ghahraman sponsored a motion on behalf of the Green Party calling for Members of Parliament to recognise the right of Palestinians to self-determination and statehood.

While Davidson was re-elected unopposed, 32 of the 107 delegates voted to reopen nominations for Shaw's position, meeting the 25% threshold needed to remove him as co-leader and trigger a leadership election under the party's rules.

[175] In addition, Brent Barrett was re-elected to the Palmerston North City Council and was joined by a second Green candidate Renee Dingwall.

Future Green MP Teanau Tuiono also ran for the position of Mayor of Palmerston North but was defeated by the incumbent Grant Smith.

[177][178] Green councillor Tamatha Paul was elected to the Wellington City Council (WCC) and became the chair of its new environment and infrastructure committee.

[180] In addition, Yadana Saw, Thomas Nash, and Quentin Duthie were elected on the Green Party ticket to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.