Looks like Greens will waka jump Tana out of Parliament

Stuff reports:

The Green Party leadership has told former MP Darleen Tana their refusal to quit Parliament is “distorting“ the party’s representation in the House.

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said on Sunday they had written to Tana about the issue and called a Special General Meeting of the party in September to discuss their response.

“Today, Marama Davidson and I wrote to Darleen Tana to inform them that it is our view that by resigning from the Green Party but refusing to resign from Parliament, they have acted in a way that has distorted, and is likely to continue to distort, the proportionality of political party representation in Parliament as determined at the last general election,” Swarbrick said.

The co-leader said they advised Tana they have 21 working days to respond to matters raised in the letter.

It looks almost certain they will use the waka jumping law to expel her from Parliament.

The letter they have sent is designed to comply with the law that states:

The statement must be in writing and signed by the parliamentary leader concerned, and must state that the parliamentary leader reasonably believes that the member of Parliament concerned has acted in a way that has distorted, and is likely to continue to distort, the proportionality of political party representation in Parliament as determined at the last general election

Further:

advising the member that he or she has 21 working days from the date of receiving the notice to respond to the matters raised in the notice by notice in writing addressed to the parliamentary leader

So 21 working days from Monday will be around 27 August. Then from that date the caucus can vote by two thirds majority to notify the Speaker that Tana be expelled.

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