The Green Party's new female co-leader is Marama Davidson.

She will join James Shaw, the Climate Change Minister, as the party's co-leaders.

The announcement in central Auckland today follows an election by party delegates. The Greens said 144 delegates cast their vote.

The election was needed because of the resignation of co-leader Metiria Turei before last year's parliamentary general election.

Davidson, of Maori ancestry and from the more-activist wing of the party, styled herself as the natural heir to Turei, and was considered the front runner in the race for the female co-leadership.

She also emphasised her place outside the ministerial executive as giving her an edge in being able to differentiate the Greens from the Labour-led Government.

Genter too said she could differentiate the Greens from the Government, despite her being a minister outside cabinet and holding three portfolios.

The Minister for Women and Associate Minister of Health and of Transport, Genter campaigned on improving links between the Green caucus and the party membership.

She is seen as representing the urban liberal wing of the party, but she rejects this narrow categorisation, pointing to her activism in peace, environmental, social justice and other issues.

The co-leadership selection was made by electorate delegate vote. Every electorate was asked to select a delegate to cast a vote after discussions with their branch.