Francisco Hernandez is a Member of Parliament representing the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand [16][21], entering Parliament in 2024 [16].
According to a single reputable secondary source, Hernandez was educated at Liston College [10] before attending the University of Otago [11][12]. During his time at Otago, he became involved in student governance, serving as an executive member of the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) from 2011 [17] and later, according to a single reputable secondary source, serving as President of OUSA [18][19].
Prior to his parliamentary career, Hernandez was active in climate and environmental advocacy. According to a single reputable secondary source, he was an activist with Generation Zero [8] and participated as a youth leader in the New Zealand Youth Delegation to the Paris Climate Talks in 2015 [9]. A single reputable secondary source also indicates an early affiliation with the Labour Party from 2008 [22].
According to a single reputable secondary source, Hernandez worked as a Green Party parliamentary staffer and policy advisor from 2014 [4]. He is also reported, by a single reputable secondary source, to have held roles including Principal Climate Advisor [5] and chief climate change advisor for the Otago Regional Council [6]. Further roles associated with climate policy, each noted by a single reputable secondary source, include work at the Climate Change Commission on sustainable waste usage [1] and as a Climate Commission advisor [2].
In 2023, according to a single reputable secondary source, Hernandez stood as the Green Party candidate for the Dunedin electorate [13] and held list rank 17 on the Green Party candidate list [14]. He subsequently entered Parliament as a Green Party Member of Parliament [15][16], confirmed from 2024 [16], affiliated with the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand [20][21].