My thoughts are with Marama Davidson and her family at this time. I wish her all the very best for a speedy recovery and hope she can join us in Parliament again soon.
NZ First leader and Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters wished Davidson a “speedy recovery” after her breast cancer diagnosis. He said their thoughts were with her.
The Labour Party said it was saddened to learn of Davidson’s breast cancer diagnosis and wished her well.
“Receiving health news like this is never easy, and the Labour Party is wishing Marama Davidson the best for her upcoming surgery and recovery,” leader Chris Hipkins said.
“We tautoko her message – don’t put off being checked. I am relieved for Marama, her family, friends and colleagues by her comment that this was picked up early.
“I am pleased to hear she will return to continue her work as a member of Parliament, and we look forward to seeing her back later this year.
“Politics can be robust, but we are all human. It’s moments like these that remind us of that.”
Green Party co-leaders, Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick attended a press conference today with Green MPs. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Green Party’s official social media site posted it was sending Marama “all their aroha” along with an excerpt of her speech.
Green MPs have begun reposting the image to show their support.
Māori Party co-leader Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer commented on the post, saying she hopes Davidson’s “healing goes well”.
Minister of Defence and former National Party leader Judith Collins said she was “very sorry to hear this devastating news”.
“Good to know that Marama’s cancer has been caught early,” she wrote on X.
Davidson said the cancer, which was picked up during a routine mammogram about a month ago, required her to undergo a partial mastectomy and would lead to her being off work for about four months.
She urged other wāhine to get checked themselves, acknowledging the level of breast cancer was disproportionately high for Māori women.
“I have held off telling people about my diagnosis while I continue to focus on parliamentary work.”
She said fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and the rest of the Green MPs would take on her responsibilities as co-leader, noting it was not the first time the party had functioned with only one of its two co-leaders for a period of time.
Davidson would be taking time off after Matariki at the end of the month and asked for privacy during this time.
She intended to stay on as co-leader of the party after treatment and she would return with “fierce” determination to fight for people and the planet.
Chief executive of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, Ah-Leen Rayner, said the organisation’s thoughts were with the Green co-leader and her family as she started her treatment journey.
“We wish her a full and speedy recovery.”
Rayner said they were also “grateful” Davidson highlighted the importance of early detection.
“If your breast cancer is detected via mammogram, your 10-year survival can be as high as 95 per cent. That’s why we encourage women to make sure they book in for their regular free mammograms from age 45 to 69. Women of all ages need to get to know the normal look and feel of their breasts so they can see a GP quickly if they notice any unusual changes.
“We hope that by speaking out about her diagnosis, Marama has encouraged more women – especially Māori and Pasifika women who are at higher risk of breast cancer – to be breast aware,” Rayner said.
