Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick speaks at the annual general meeting

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick speaks at today’s general meeting in Christchurch.
Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter

Green Party members are gathering in Christchurch this weekend for the party’s annual general meeting, and the fate of former MP Darleen Tana is expected to feature heavily on the agenda.

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has urged party faithful to build the biggest green movement the world has ever seen.

Swarbrick will now address members at the Greens’ annual general meeting in Christchurch – her first since becoming co-leader in March.

She tells them that the party needs to go through a difficult period of growth and reflect on what it was and what it wants to be.

One of those difficult discussions is set to take place this afternoon, with members debating whether to use legislation they have historically opposed.

Members will discuss whether to use party-switching legislation to remove Darleen Tana from Parliament – but a vote will not be forced.

Tana was ousted by the Greens and asked to quit politics altogether this month after an independent investigation found the MP was likely aware of allegations of worker exploitation at her husband Christian Hoff-Nielsen’s company and only revealed them to the party after last year’s election.

Although they voted in favour of the Electoral Integrity Amendment Act in 2018, the Greens have long been clear in their opposition to the legislation.

However, with Tana determined to remain in parliament and the Greens’ proportionality now affected, Swarbrick said the party would now formally explore other avenues at the annual general meeting.

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