Steve Abel, born Stephen George Bremner Abel in January 1970, is a New Zealand politician, environmental activist, and musician whose multifaceted career has left a significant mark on Aotearoa’s political, cultural, and environmental landscapes. A member of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand since the late 1990s, Abel has been a list Member of Parliament since his election on October 14, 2023, joining the party’s largest-ever caucus. His journey reflects a commitment to social justice, environmental integrity, and artistic expression, underpinned by a belief in peaceful civil disobedience as a tool for change. Steve Abel Biography, Politician & Parliament
Abel’s environmental activism began in earnest in the late 1990s with Native Forest Action, where he played a pivotal role in halting native logging on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island from 1998 to 2000. His work with Greenpeace from 2002 to 2006 saw him lead campaigns against genetically engineered food crops and the proposed Marsden B coal-fired power station in Northland. The latter included a nine-day occupation in 2005 and the operation of a pirate radio station, Heatwave FM, in 2006, contributing to the project’s eventual abandonment. In 2010, Abel coordinated the March Against Mining in Auckland, described as the “biggest protest in a generation,” which influenced the government’s retreat from mining high-value conservation land. His 2011 campaign alongside Te Whānau-a-Apanui against Petrobras’ deep-sea oil drilling in the Raukumara Basin culminated in the company relinquishing its permits in 2012. From 2021 to 2023, as a Senior Campaigner for Greenpeace, Abel spearheaded a free nitrate water-testing initiative for rural communities affected by dairy contamination, emphasizing access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right. He also co-founded Mana Rākau, an urban tree protection group, following a 245-day tree-sit protest in Avondale, Auckland, in 2020.
Politically, Abel has been a steadfast Green Party candidate, contesting the Titirangi electorate in 1999, Mangere in 2002, and New Lynn in 2020, where he secured third place with 3,701 votes. His 2023 election as a list MP at position nine on the Green Party list marked a milestone, with his New Lynn campaign achieving a record 16% party vote. Abel’s political philosophy integrates Te Tiriti o Waitangi, social equity, and ecological restoration, with a focus on protecting forests, freshwater, and oceans while transitioning agriculture to sustainable practices.
As a musician, Abel has garnered acclaim for his introspective songwriting. His debut album, Little Death (2006), recorded with a “Kiwi supergroup” featuring members of Goldenhorse, Pluto, and Goodshirt, won the 2006 Alternatui Album of the Year. His follow-up, Flax Happy (2008), recorded with The Chrysalids and featuring Jolie Holland, earned critical praise for its “bone-bare” lyricism. In 2009, Abel won The Saddest Song in the World Competition in Berlin, and later that year, he performed at the CMJ Music Festival in New York. His song “Hospice for Destitute Lovers” and voice work as Gert featured in Florian Habicht’s 2003 film Woodenhead. Abel also coordinated the 2005 re-recording of Don McGlashan’s “Anchor Me” to commemorate the Rainbow Warrior bombing’s twentieth anniversary.
Abel’s advocacy extends to global issues, notably his participation in a 2023 Palestinian solidarity rally, where he joined Green MPs in chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Residing in Auckland, Abel continues to champion a vision of a just, sustainable society through his parliamentary work, activism, and art.
