Steve Abel is a long-time environment and climate activist with an impressive record of successful advocacy as a part of campaigns to end native logging, stop Marsden B coal-fired power station, and against offshore oil and gas drilling. He is a founding member of urban tree protection group Mana Rākau and most recently has worked with Greenpeace to highlight the impact of nitrate contamination on rural communities believing that access to safe drinking water is a basic right of all people.
Abel joined the Greens in the late 1990s because of its whole-of-society charter and manifesto. He believes upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, social justice, and environmental integrity are all essential to a viable society and liveable planet.
He takes a particular interest in the protection and restoration of forests, freshwater and oceans; and transformation of agriculture to ecological methods. Steve lives in Rānui in West Auckland and in 2023 was elected to Parliament as a Green Party List Candidate.
He sits on the Primary Production and Petitions Select Committees and holds the portfolios of: Agriculture, Minerals and Resources, Crown Māori Relations, Animal Welfare, Racing, and Food Safety.
