[citation needed] Following the death of Rod Donald, Norman put his name forward as a contender for the male co-leader position.

He won the position on 3 June 2006 at the annual meeting, beating Tanczos, David Clendon and former MP Mike Ward in an STV vote by delegates from electorates around the country.

In the 2008 general election Norman stood in the Rongotai electorate against senior Labour Cabinet Minister Annette King.

[9] Norman stood as the Green Party's candidate for the Mount Albert by-election in 2009, following the resignation of Prime Minister Helen Clark.

[11] In November 2013 it was announced that Norman would be challenged for the party co-leadership by former Green candidate and Auckland Council policy analyst David Hay.

Hay admitted breaching the rules after attacking the leadership through via media and leaking internal party documents though also found him to have a genuine grievance for being barred from the candidate pool based on allegations with no evidence.

[15] He named what he saw as his key political victories as co-leader as: forcing the Government to reverse its decision to allow mining on Schedule 4 conservation land, and leading a campaign and referendum against National's asset sales programme.

[15][19][20] In 2012 when Norman and David Shearer shaved their heads for a cancer appeal, he revealed that he had had a melanoma mole removed from his forearm at age 15, leaving a 10 cm scar.