The Green Party has suspended one of its MPs, Darleen Tana, after allegations of migrant exploitation at a business owned by her husband.
It comes as Stuff reports a worker claimed he is owed around $25,000 in wages and holiday pay from E Cycles NZ. He also alleges being paid in cash until he secured a work visa following a one-day trial overseen by Tana.
He said he’d made a complaint to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA). It is also understood a second worker had also complained.
In a statement this morning, Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick confirmed that Tana notified the party of an ERA complaint on February 1.
The party has confirmed Darleen Tana has been stood down after allegations of migrant exploitation at a business owned by their husband. (Source: 1News)
They said the party was also notified of a second complaint against the business on February 9.
Tana has not been a director or shareholder of E Cycles NZ since 2019.
However, they said it was not until yesterday they learned “that Ms Tana may have had some prior knowledge of the allegations”.
The Green Party has confirmed that Tana has been suspended from all caucus and Parliamentary responsibilities.
The co-leaders said: “The matters have been referred to mediation for resolution.
“Mediation is necessarily confidential. This is so everyone can talk freely and try to reach an agreed outcome.”
They revealed the party had appointed an independent lawyer to investigate the matter and “Ms Tana will stand aside from all Caucus and Parliamentary responsibilities until the matter is resolved”.
“We cannot comment on the specific allegations while the matter is waiting in mediation and the independent investigation is ongoing.”
In an interview with 1News this morning, Davidson confirmed the allegations are "serious".
"We have long stood for protecting migrant workers," she added.
"We always ask candidates to declare anything that might bring the party into disrepute... this wasn't declared."
Today's revelation comes after former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman pleaded guilty to shoplifting earlier this week.
"It's been a rough time [for the party], I think that's clear to everybody," Davidson said.
"All we can do is work through issues as they come up – and we do our best to uphold a natural justice process for everyone concerned including anybody who is impacted on by allegations, including for the MPs themselves.
"We do our best and this is something else to be worked through, and we are taking this seriously."
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