Firstly, Tamatha Paul is GREAT. More young, wāhine Māori getting into politics is something I'm 100% here for, and I genuinely support her and her kaupapa.

However, I don't understand her rationale.

She would have more power and potential to impact more people's lives positively at WCC. She's the chair of the Planning and Infrastructure Committee and could seriously influence how density, transport, cycle lanes, and other infrastructure is implemented over the next 5-30 years. These are the things that will bring Wellington forward as a city and have the biggest and best impact on people's lives.

And she gave it up to be an opposition backbencher for the next 3-9 years? Realistically, the govt is going to go ahead and do whatever the fuck it can convince its partners to do, and they're not going to give a flying fuck about what the Green Party has to say about it.

It then begs the question, did she just do this for her own self-interest? She has reduced her influence in the pursuit of higher political status.

But, shit, I don't know.