Former Green Party co-leader Russel Norman is officially ready to leave Parliament, heading to a new role at Greenpeace.

Dr Norman came into Parliament when National took over the Treasury benches in 2008.

He quit the Greens co leadership a few months back but the Green tag remains with his new job which begs the question, will he ever shake it?

"It's a good question, but would I want to? I believe that the sustainability issues are the biggest facing the human race this century, and we really need to get our heads around them."

He finishes with the Green Party at the end of next month, becoming Executive Director at Greenpeace in November.

But Dr Norman said he also obviously has a lot to learn from the international organisation.

He'll be replaced by Marama Davidson, who has previously worked at the Human Rights Commission, and served as the Chief Panelist for the Glenn Inquiry into Domestic Violence and Child Abuse.

Greens co-leader James Shaw said she "lives in Manurewa, and lives alongside a lot of the communities that are really doing it tough at the moment, so she has that first hand experience of what the effects of poverty and inequality are." 

John Key has paid his respects to Norman as he departs politics.

The former Green Co-Leader is resigning as an MP to take up an executive director role at Greenpeace New Zealand

John Key said Dr Norman’s decision to go was predictable but he’s wishing him the best.

He said it’s difficult when you’re not in Government to action everything you want.

"For the most part I suspect he'll probably leave parliament feeling as though he's made a contribution that was worthwhile and hopefully he's enjoyed his time there."