Summarised by Centrist
The Green Party is set to use the waka-jumping law to force out independent MP Darleen Tana. In a special meeting of 185 delegates on 17 October, the party reached a consensus to write to the Speaker of the House, claiming that Tana’s resignation from the party has skewed the proportionality of Parliament.
Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick urged Tana to “do the right thing” and resign, stating, “this is not a nice situation. It sucks.”
Tana, who quit the Greens after allegations of migrant exploitation involving her husband’s business, remains in Parliament despite repeated calls for her to step down.
The decision to use the waka-jumping law, which the Greens have historically opposed, shows how united the party is on the matter. Swarbrick emphasised that the party had tried all possible avenues before taking this step, stating, “we have held true to our values throughout this process.”
Former Green co-leader Metiria Turei’s surprise participation in the meeting added weight to the decision. She had mostly been absent from politics in the wake of her resignation following her involvement in a benefit fraud scandal. Turei remarked that some situations, like Tana’s, require an MP’s removal not because of political disagreement but due to personal conduct.
Editor’s note: The Green Party has long condemned the waka-jumping law as undemocratic. Yet, to many, their sudden readiness to exploit it suggests a double standard in how they apply their principles when it suits their agenda.
