Bradford vows to continue in Parliament

Sue Bradford says she will continue to be a strong voice for 'the vulnerable and low wage earners.' Photo / Greg Bowker

Democracy is a bruising business. Leadership changes for other parties are largely done behind closed doors - decisions are made by caucus and then the winner paraded before the nation, while the loser can skulk off for wound licking, at least for a while.

For the Greens, it's not quite like Survivor - it's worse. Rather than "the tribe has voted, please leave the island immediately", it's "the tribe has voted, now stay here so everyone can watch you suffer."

So on Saturday, when Metiria Turei was elected Green Party co-leader by its membership, Sue Bradford joined in the applause and hugged her. It wasn't until after the speeches that she slipped away while Ms Turei was talking to media.

Yesterday, Ms Bradford said she was disappointed at the result, which followed two months of the pair campaigning around the country together.

"It is really hard, but I don't regret that I stood. We are facing tough times as a country, and the Green Party has much to do. It's a big job, and she's quite young. I wish her well with it."

She said Ms Turei's age was probably one factor that tipped the race in her favour.

Ms Bradford said she would be back in Parliament tomorrow and had no intention of quitting the party. "I'll be doing what I've always been doing ... be a strong voice for the vulnerable and low wage earners."

A hard worker for the party, Ms Bradford managed to push through three private members' bills in the last term - the anti-smacking law, raising the youth wage to equal the adult minimum wage, and allowing mothers in prison to keep their babies with them longer.

While some in the party were concerned about her public image after the anti-smacking law, she believed the vast majority believed it was a point in her favour and one of the biggest achievements of the party.

Ms Turei paid tribute to Ms Bradford, saying she was the most effective backbencher Parliament had seen in a long time.

Former co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said she would talk to her to reinforce how valuable she was to the party.