Background
Hughes grew up in Gisborne, and, after attending Gisborne Boys" High School, studied religious studies, history and politics at Victoria University of Wellington.
Hughes grew up in Gisborne, and, after attending Gisborne Boys" High School, studied religious studies, history and politics at Victoria University of Wellington.
Victoria University of Wellington.
He took a seat in Parliament as the next person on the Green party list following the retirement of Jeanette Fitzsimons. He became a vegetarian while a student. He worked for Greenpeace in Australia and New Zealand from 2000–2005, and then worked for the Green Party on climate change issues.
In May 2004, Hughes was arrested after dressing as Ronald McDonald and chaining himself to the gates of McDonald"s New Zealand distribution centre in Wiri, Auckland, protesting against the use of genetically modified chicken feed.
In the 2008 elections, Hughes stood in the Ōhariu electorate, placing fourth with 7.06% of the vote. In 2009 Hughes co-ordinated Greenpeace New Zealand"s "Sign On" campaign, which called for stronger action on climate change.
Following the retirement of list Member of Parliament Jeanette Fitzsimons Hughes was declared elected as the next candidate on the Green party list, ranked at place 11. He was sworn in as an Member of Parliament on 16 February 2010.
He was the youngest Member of Parliament in Parliament at the time of his election.
In his maiden speech on 24 February 2010, Hughes declared his support for a New Zealand republic. Hughes is the Green Party"s spokesperson on housing, Information and communications technology , libraries and archives, tertiary education, General Electric, food, oceans, transport, and youth. He was ranked seventh on the Green party list at the 2011 general election and was re-elected as a list Member of Parliament.
However, Hughes was campaigning mostly for the party vote, of which the Green Party gained 9.13%.