Green Party MP Darleen Tana has been kicked out of caucus after it was presented with the findings of an independent investigation into allegations of migrant exploitation.
While the report has not been released, party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said it showed Tana’s behaviour had fallen “far short” of caucus’ standards and was “completely at odds” with its values.
Green MPs unanimously voted in favour of asking for her resignation from the party and Parliament, after giving Tana and her lawyer an opportunity to respond to the allegations at an emergency caucus meeting on Saturday.
The ousted MP handed in her resignation before the end of the meeting and the co-leaders wrote to Speaker Gerry Brownlee to inform him Tana was no longer a member of the caucus.
Swarbrick told media that Tana had not yet followed through with the party’s request that she also resign from Parliament. When Elizabeth Kerekere resigned last year, she remained as an independent MP until the election.
There is a legal mechanism—often called the waka jumping rule—through which the party can oust an MP who leaves the party, however the Green Party has opposed its use in the past.
Swarbrick said the ball was in Tana’s court but these allegations of migrant exploitation were much more severe than previous controversies the party had faced.
“We are hoping that Darleen does the right thing and resigns from Parliament. If she doesn’t do that, further discussions will ensue,” she said.
The party plans to release an executive summary of the report but not until all the people who were named in the summary have been notified.
“To be clear, our preference would have been immediate release of the full report, but we must continue to follow good practice around privacy rights and law,” Swarbrick said.
Marama Davidson, the party’s other co-leader, was involved in the process despite being on leave to receive treatment after her recent cancer diagnosis.
“We are deeply disappointed that Darleen Tana has not been forthcoming about very serious breaches of Green Party kaupapa, and has not acknowledged nor taken accountability for the impact of her behaviour on others,” she said in a statement.
Swarbrick acknowledged it had been a difficult period for the party but asked for the media to not conflate tragedies, such as the death of Efeso Collins, with political scandals.
The party has now lost four MPs, or 25% of its caucus, since the election late last year — not counting Davidson’s temporary leave.
Hamilton-based teacher Benjamin Doyle was ranked at number 18 on the 2023 election list and presumably would be brought into Parliament if and when Tana resigns.
Tana would be able to stay on as an independent MP for the rest of the term, unless the Green Party was willing to break with precedent and force her out using the waka-jumping rule.
Swarbrick told reporters thousands of New Zealanders had voted for the Green Party to have 15 seats in Parliament but wouldn’t say if the party would force Tana to step down.
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