Mike Davidson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Davidson in 2023 | |
| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forGreenparty list | |
| Assumed office 6 October 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Doyle[n 1] |
| Member of theChristchurch City Council for the Papanui ward | |
| In office 2016–2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Victoria Henstock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael John Davidson (1976-01-29)29 January 1976 (age 50) Kaikōura, New Zealand |
| Party | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand |
| Relatives | Lianne Dalziel (stepmother) |
Michael John Davidson (born 29 January 1976) is a New Zealand politician. He has represented theGreen Party of Aotearoa New Zealand as a Member of Parliament since 6 October 2025, when he replacedBenjamin Doyle.
Davidson was born inKaikōura on 29 January 1976, the son of Gaye and Rob Davidson,[1] and is ofNgāi Tahu descent.[2][3] His father was a locomotive driver and later a lawyer, who died in 2020 at the age of 69. The elder Davidson had been married toLianne Dalziel, themayor of Christchurch from 2013 to 2022, for 25 years until his death.[4] Davidson's father and grandfather had both previously unsuccessfully run forChristchurch City Council.[5] Davidson was previously an environmental scientist. He worked for theEarthquake Commission for seven years.[5][6] Davidson also worked as an operational manager at Whitiora, a skills and employment centre.[7]
Davidson first entered local politics in 2013, when he was elected to the Shirley-Papanui Community Board.[5] From 2016 to 2022 Davidson was a councillor for Christchurch City Council, representing thePapanui ward.[6][8] He was elected at the age of 40.[5] Davidson was chairperson of the urban development and transport committee, and is an advocate for cycleways and better urban transport.[8][6][9] He has supported the re-opening ofEdgeware pool, which was closed in 2006.[10] Davidson lost the Papanui ward in2022 to Victoria Henstock.[11]
In the2025 Christchurch City Council elections, Davidson is a candidate for the Innes ward on the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central community board, standing forThe People's Choice.[7][12][13] Davidson was elected to Parliament during the local election and has said that if he is also elected to the community board intends to donate that salary to the mayor's welfare fund.[14]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–present | 54th | List | 19 | Green | |
Davidson contested theIlam electorate in the2023 election as aGreen Party candidate.[8] He was 19th on the party list.[2] He was unsuccessful in winning the seat, placing fourth, and was not initially high enough on the party list to be allocated a seat.[15]
Davidson was elected to parliament on 6 October 2025 to fill the list vacancy arising from the resignation ofBenjamin Doyle.[16][17]
