Darleen Tana: Former Green MP on their decision to remain in Parliament, the situation with the migrant workers

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Darleen Tana has made their choice to remain in Parliament.

They have declined the Green Party’s request to resign, leaving the Party to deliberate over whether or not to enact the waka jumping legislation.

Tana revealed to Mike Hosking that they’re surprised the report into the allegations of migrant exploitation in their husband’s business hasn’t already been leaked.

They said that it’s very clear that they don’t recognize the findings of the report, and while others can read it and come to a conclusion, it doesn’t necessarily represent what actually happened.

Tana told Mike Hosking that direct evidence was not taken into account in the full investigation, saying that they’ve heard the words “witch hunt” be used in relation to the situation.

They said that it’s very clear upon looking back on how everything happened that the decision to get them to resign was premeditated.

Tana says their husband's staff shouldn't have gone public with their allegations of exploitation.

The now independent MP told Hosking the workers should be leaving it up to the Employment Relations Authority to resolve the dispute.

Tana says the authority is the appropriate place to deal with that, rather than going public to the media because the owner of the business is married to an MP.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.