Tana resigned from the Green Party earlier this year after allegations she knew about alleged migrant exploitation at her husband’s business. She had sat as an independent MP but the Greens decided to pursue their options under the 2018 waka-jumping law to remove her from Parliament altogether.
The party started that process in July, but it has only concluded today.
Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee today confirmed the decision to declare Tana’s seat vacant as he addressed the House before Question Time.
He said the matter had not been taken lightly, saying he had taken advice and considered the relevant legislation before he was satisfied the motion delivered by the Green Party leaders complied with the Electoral Act 1993.
Tana would not respond to the Herald’s requests for comment but told 1 News she would respect the Speaker’s call to give effect to her ouster.
“The party-hopping law doesn’t leave much wiggle room,” she said.
“There’s argument that some of it can be reviewable by judicial review, but no, I think because I’m also relieved somewhat that l no longer have to stand there and hold because ... had I resigned, that would have, in one way, been an admission of guilt and ... I wasn’t guilty.”
Tana said she learned the Speaker would remove her this morning.
“My reaction to that? In one part relieved, but mostly just thankful - thankful to all of my supporters who’ve held me thus far and continue to hold me even now, who know that I’m not guilty of anything, that I’ve not done anything wrong,” she said.
Independent MP Darleen Tana during Question Time in Parliament, Wellington, 15 October, 2024. NZME phorograph by Mark Mitchell
Tana’s spot will be taken by the next person on the Green Party list, Benjamin Doyle. A statement from the Greens said Doyle would be sworn into Parliament in due course.
In a statement, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said that last week: “185 Green Party delegates, representing our thousands of members across the country, came to unanimous consensus to put this request to the Speaker. This, of course, went well above and beyond the requirements in the law. We have always been and remain a proudly grassroots-led party”.
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“Throughout this process, our founding values and principles have been our guiding star, and I am proud of how we have held true to those. This gazette from the Speaker today draws a line under the issue.
“Every single day, we have continued to fight for people and planet, and hold the Government to account on their cruel and destructive agenda. That mahi continues with the vigour our communities need and deserve,” Swarbrick said.
Tana’s ouster will mean a slight funding uplift for the Green Party because parliamentary funding for political parties is calculated on the basis of the number of MPs that party has.
Tana is the first MP to be removed under the new legislation, although another MP, Donna Awatere Huata, was expelled under a previous iteration of the law.
Thomas Coughlan is Deputy Political Editor and covers politics from Parliament. He has worked for the Herald since 2021 and has worked in the press gallery since 2018.
