Confirmation from Green Party Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick revealed that the party unanimously agreed to notify the Speaker and urge Tana to resign, stating it was time for her to “do the right thing”.
“After a Special General Meeting discussing the potential use of the Electoral Act to remove Darleen Tana as a Member of Parliament, party delegates have supported giving notice to the Speaker under section 55A(3)(b) of the Act.
“The decision to notify the Speaker under the Electoral Act was supported by all 185 delegates present at the meeting.
“Hon. Marama Davidson and I have personally reached out to Darleen Tana to communicate this decision and once again request that she takes accountability and resigns as a Member of Parliament.
“In our communication with the Speaker, we have highlighted that Darleen’s resignation from the party without resigning from Parliament has disrupted the House’s proportionality, prompting the next steps in the legal process.
“Throughout this entire process, we have remained steadfast in upholding our values as our guiding principle. I am proud of how we have stayed true to our values amidst this challenging situation.”
Green Party members convened this evening to determine whether to invoke the “party-hopping” legislation to oust former Green MP Darleen Tana from Parliament.
Despite a last-minute legal plea from Tana, the vote proceeded as planned.
Party members needed to come to a consensus on whether to utilize the legislation, which the Greens have historically opposed.
Last month, Tana took the party to court, arguing that the Green Party’s disciplinary process had been illegal, unauthorized by the party’s constitution, and unfair.
However, the court dismissed her claims, allowing the Greens to move forward with the Special General Meeting.
