The Greens have released the Executive Summary of their report into Darleen Tana, and it's pretty clear in asserting that Tana had much more involvement with her husband's bike business than she otherwise claimed.

The question now is whether or she's going to decide to stay in Parliament. Tana said in her interview with Maiki Sherman that she'd take a little bit of time before deciding whether to remain in parliament as an independent MP, but if she does decide to stay around, I think it's pretty clear the Greens have only one choice.

If the party leaders believe in the integrity of the report - a report which took the best part of four months to produce - then I think they have little choice but to instigate the waka-jumping legislation which they so publicly despised, and expel Darlene Tana from Parliament.

Let us not forget, the main reason the Greens opposed the waka-jumping legislation is not for situations like this. The main reason they opposed it was so that if an MP held a different position on a really important policy to that which was being whipped by their party, they could take a moral stand and dissent.

This ain't that. This is not a dispute over policy. This is an MP whose colleagues they believe has not been truthful to the party. An MP who has brought the party and the caucus into disrepute. And while Darlene Tana might complain about the process of this investigation and some of the findings, her former party leader and caucus colleagues have been blunt. They want her out.

This should have been a week when the Greens were laser-focused on the Government's climate plans. This week of all weeks should've been one where they represented their constituents in opposition. Instead, they're still answering questions about the character of MPs who were until very recently part of their caucus.

The Greens have swallowed a rat in the past. After all, they voted to pass the waka-jumping bill into law. But I actually don't think many people would resent them if they swallowed another in this case. If Darlene Tana won't quit on her own accord, and they believe in the integrity of the report, the Greens should cop a few days of criticism for their hypocrisy, push her out, and move on.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Greens have released the Executive Summary of their report into Darleen Tana, and it's pretty clear in asserting that Tana had much more involvement with her husband's bike business than she otherwise claimed.
The question now is whether or she's going to decide to stay in Parliament. Tana said in her interview with Maiki Sherman that she'd take a little bit of time before deciding whether to remain in parliament as an independent MP, but if she does decide to stay around, I think it's pretty clear the Greens have only one choice.
If the party leaders believe in the integrity of the report - a report which took the best part of four months to produce - then I think they have little choice but to instigate the waka-jumping legislation which they so publicly despised, and expel Darlene Tana from Parliament.
Let us not forget, the main reason the Greens opposed the waka-jumping legislation is not for situations like this. The main reason they opposed it was so that if an MP held a different position on a really important policy to that which was being whipped by their party, they could take a moral stand and dissent.
This ain't that. This is not a dispute over policy. This is an MP whose colleagues they believe has not been truthful to the party. An MP who has brought the party and the caucus into disrepute. And while Darlene Tana might complain about the process of this investigation and some of the findings, her former party leader and caucus colleagues have been blunt. They want her out.
This should have been a week when the Greens were laser-focused on the Government's climate plans. This week of all weeks should've been one where they represented their constituents in opposition. Instead, they're still answering questions about the character of MPs who were until very recently part of their caucus.
The Greens have swallowed a rat in the past. After all, they voted to pass the waka-jumping bill into law. But I actually don't think many people would resent them if they swallowed another in this case. If Darlene Tana won't quit on her own accord, and they believe in the integrity of the report, the Greens should cop a few days of criticism for their hypocrisy, push her out, and move on.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Jack Tame: The Greens can own the hypocrisy and push Tana out

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c62524c3-79d0-4b1c-b5f0-b1b00073d4c8/transcript