Darleen Tana: 200 Green delegates to vote on MP's future in weeks

Green Party co-leaders have set in motion steps to kick independent MP Darleen Tana out of Parliament, however they say the final decision on triggering waka-jumping provisions will be left to a vote from delegates in September.

Approximately 200 delegates, chosen by party branches from around the country, would vote at a special general meeting on whether the party could use the legislation in Tana's case. The Greens have long opposed the waka-jumping mechanisms.

The law was supposed to discourage MPs from leaving their party in the middle of a parliamentary term by ensuring they would be dumped from Parliament if they did. Under the legislation however, either the MP or the previous party must notify the Speaker of invoking the provision, something the Greens have criticised and declined so far to do.

But, co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson wrote to Tana today, saying they believed the MP — whose husband's business has been accused of migrant worker exploitation — had "distorted the proportionality" of Parliament.

"We have advised them that they have 21 working days to respond to the matters raised in the letter," Swarbrick said.

The letter to their former colleague is one requirement under the provisions of the waka-jumping legislation before the mechanism can be triggered.

The co-leader continued: "Sending notice to Darleen through this letter is one of the requirements under the legislation, but I want to be clear that we will not be taking the further and final step of writing to the Speaker to trigger party-hopping provisions unless we have the clear backing of our party to do so.

"Allowing for Darleen Tana’s response to this letter while scheduling the special general meeting a few weeks away will mean our membership has the time to thoroughly consider this issue throughout their branches, provinces and networks.

"It also means they will have Darleen Tana’s response, if they choose to respond, in order to inform their decision-making."

A 75% consensus majority, among the 200 delegates, would be required to make a decision, but Swarbrick said she hoped the decision could be made "unanimously".

She added that Marama Davidson — who has been on leave as co-leader while fighting breast cancer — has been "fully involved in the process" of determining Tana's future. On Friday, Davidson attempted to call, text, and email her former MP "multiple times".

Earlier this week, Tana expressed "determination" to continue the job. The representative was then seen sitting with Te Pāti Māori's MPs later in the week.

Green Party members have discussed using the waka-jumping legislation at a meeting in Christchurch this weekend. Speaking to media, Swarbrick said party members were "relieved" that there was now a process to come to a final decision.

"Our membership are supportive of a deliberative and participatory process to come to making a decision," she said in a media conference.

"It's probably one of the most Green Party things in the world, in which we have set up a process, in which you make a decision, in which our membership has been brought along for the ride in terms of how we go about setting up that process in the first place."

She added: "We do things differently than any other political party, and we're really proud of that."

The co-leader said using the party-hopping provisions requires "in-depth discussions not only by caucus but by the broader Green Party," involving thousands of members.

"Our party’s long-recorded concerns with this legislation have been the potential for concentration of immense power in political party leadership.

"As you can see, the process we are following is based on extensive engagement with the flaxroots of our membership."

Tana could be seen sitting with Te Pāti Māori MPs after making a return to Parliament.

Green MP Teanau Tuiono, who chairs his party’s Māori and Pasifika caucus, said he's had a "chat" with the MPs across from him, though he couldn't "recall" what he discussed.

"We sit right next to them as well. But what the Te Pāti Māori does is what Te Pāti Māori does. It's entirely up to them," he told media today.

Earlier this week, Tana expressed "determination to continue serving the people" after sitting in Parliament for the first time since becoming an independent. The former Green MP appeared defiant in response to the pleas of former colleagues to quit Parliament.

"I'm here now and doing the mahi, for as long as this place will allow me," Tana said.

"It's been a long time out, and I've been very keen to do the mahi. I'm pleased to be back and I'm determined to continue serving the people."

Tana added: "I came in to work on ocean protection and restoring inner-coast marine environments. Those are the areas in particular that I'd love to focus on and working across Parliament to achieve some movement in those areas."

On Tuesday, the MP could be seen in Parliament's debating chamber, seated directly behind former colleagues. The former Green Party representative appeared mostly expressionless and contemplative throughout the first several minutes of question time.

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