Green Party AGM: Chlöe Swarbrick says Darleen Tana issue will be respected by party procedures

Green Party members will gather in Christchurch this weekend for the party’s annual conference, where the fate of former MP Darleen Tana will be a major topic.

Tanna was sacked by the Green Party this month and asked to quit politics altogether, an independent investigation found The MP may have been aware of allegations of worker exploitation Working for her husband Christian Hoff-Nielsen’s company, she did not disclose it to the party until after last year’s election.

While the question of whether to use the party-hopping bill to remove Tanna from parliament will be discussed at Saturday’s AGM, co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said a vote would not be forced.

Despite swallowing dead rats and voting for the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill in 2018, the Greens have long made clear their opposition to the legislation.

However, Thana determined to stay in parliamentand that the Greens’ percentages have now suffered, Swarbrick said the party will now formally explore other avenues at its annual general meeting.

“We will be discussing this issue this weekend and making clear to our MPs the position of our parliamentary caucus that we do not believe that the behaviour displayed by Darlene Tanna indicates that she is unfit to be a member of parliament,” Swarbrick said.

“It’s really that simple. We are just having a discussion, in a democratic and consultative way, about what the next step should be for our party.”

Any policy position the party takes must be based on the opinions of the majority of its members. Green MPs often tout the power of the party’s member-led decision-making, sometimes to the confusion of outsiders. Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern likened the Green Party’s decision-making process to a TV show Squid Games In the 2023 valedictory speech.

But one Green Party member, who spoke to Radio New Zealand on condition of anonymity, said they were concerned that process was not being followed and that the party’s parliamentary faction was steering members towards the outcome they wanted: getting rid of Tanna.

“It would easily divide us into factions and cliques even more than we already do,” they said.

The member was concerned that the member-led decision-making process was being undermined.

“The way things are worded, the way communications are conducted, the way MPs talk about things in the media, the way the options are presented to political parties all put pressure on the government to make it very difficult for decision-makers to come to anything other than the default answer,” they said.

“It is presented as Fait accompliit was framed as ‘this is the only decision that can be made. ’”

Swarbrick insisted that the process would be fully respected and that no one would be forced to accept any outcome.

“We are just a branch of the larger radical movement, the parliamentary faction. I have said many times that we would not consider using this bill or enacting it without the support of the party.”

Ricardo Menéndez March, Green party convener (equivalent to the Green party whip), said he expected membership to be approached directly with councillors.

He said: “We will no doubt be engaging in intensive conversations with councillors and following the recent news that Darlene intends to remain on the council, we will be guided by their views in making our decision.”

“Green Party members have been discussing this issue for many years and part of our role as a democratic party is to allow our members the space to have that in-depth conversation.”

Co-leader Marama Davidson on leave She is being treated for breast cancerSwarbrick will deliver keynote addresses at both Saturday and Sunday’s meeting, her first AGM since becoming co-leader.

Swarbrick said she remains in frequent contact with Davidson and will bring “her passion for compassion and justice” to the AGM.

She said her first speech will focus on It’s been a tough year for the Green Partyand where the party will go next.

Not only is there the Tana problem; Golriz Ghahraman resignsthis James Shaw retiresand Julie Anne Genter referred to the Privileges Committee. Condition Elizabeth Carlyle to step down in 2023 This has become a sore spot for some Green Party members, who also believe that the Green Party has not acted decisively or quickly enough while in power.

The party was also attended by Death of Faanana Efeso Collins and Davidson’s cancer diagnosis.Swarbrick said the caucus “grinded in the fire” and united despite the challenges.

“I’m going to give a speech that reflects on our history and is honest about the very interesting growing pains we’re going through right now and the need for us to step outside of ourselves, be challenged, bring in different perspectives, and create space and time to move forward together and grow our movement if we want to achieve our political ambitions,” Swarbrick said.

She said Sunday’s speech would reflect the more immediate and pressing climate and inequality challenges facing the country.

“I will be very clear about the immediate challenges we face as a government and the absolute disregard for humanity and the planet.”

As the first AGM of the new parliamentary cycle, it is unlikely to introduce major new policies, although Swarbrick said that as a party full of “policy experts” it would engage in policy discussions and strategy for the opposition.

There may also be some constitutional details to be worked out, as well as some preparations for next year’s local government elections.

And, as at all Green Party AGMs, the co-leadership position will be put to a vote.

In announcing her cancer diagnosis, Davidson said she would seek support from her fellow deputies to keep her position.

The Green Party constitution allows for this if at least 25% of voters choose to reopen nominations.

Swarbrick is confident that she and Davidson will be confirmed again.

“That’s my hope. But look, we’re a Democratic Party, and there are ‘odd things,’ right?”