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Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana breaks silence on allegations of migrant exploitation

Author
九一星空无限talk ZB, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 15 Mar 2024, 4:15pm
Photo / Supplied
Photo / Supplied

Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana breaks silence on allegations of migrant exploitation

Author
九一星空无限talk ZB, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Fri, 15 Mar 2024, 4:15pm

Suspended Green MP Darleen Tana says she intends to cooperate fully with an investigation after听allegations emerged of migrant exploitation at her husband鈥檚 company.

鈥淚 welcome an investigation and intend to cooperate fully, and I will not be commenting further,鈥 Tana, who held the party鈥檚 small business portfolio, told the听Herald听in a statement.

Tana is the third Green MP in less than a year to run into trouble, following in the footsteps of听Elizabeth Kerekere, who quit the party last year amidst bullying allegations, and听Golriz Ghahraman, who resigned after allegations emerged of her shoplifting.

Green Party MP Darleen Tana has been suspended amid allegations she is linked to migrant exploitation at her husband鈥檚 company.

Green Party MP Darleen Tana has been suspended amid allegations she is linked to migrant exploitation at her husband鈥檚 company.听

A statement from Green Party leader Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick earlier today said Tana was suspended on Thursday afternoon because the allegations raised a conflict of interest with her small business portfolio.

The claims first came to light on February 1 when Tana informed the party a complaint had been made to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) by a worker at her husband Christian Hoff-Neilsen鈥檚 business, E-Bikes NZ.

Tana was suspended after it became apparent she may have previously been aware of the allegations.

A spokesperson for the Green Party said they are conducting an internal investigation to determine what Tana knew about the allegations relating to her husband鈥檚 business.

The party has appointed an independent expert workplace investigator and barrister to establish the facts.

Christian Hoff-Nielsen, who founded the E-Bikes NZ chain, denied all allegations when speaking to the听Herald听this morning from his store in Auckland鈥檚 Newmarket.

Hoff-Nielsen said he had not spoken to the worker 鈥渁t all鈥 and had worked for him for 鈥渕ere months鈥.

鈥淗e鈥檚 just pumping it up,鈥 he said, insinuating the claims are a cash grab.

Christian Hoff-Neilsen, husband of Darleen Tana, denied all allegations when speaking to the Herald this morning.  Photo / Jason Oxenham.

Christian Hoff-Neilsen, husband of Darleen Tana, denied all allegations when speaking to the Herald this morning. Photo / Jason Oxenham.听

He said being stood down has been 鈥渞eally hard鈥 on Tana.

鈥淪he鈥檚 not here and she鈥檚 got nothing to do with this,鈥 Hoff-Nielsen said.

Hoff-Nielsen said Tana is now at home, but would not say whether that was in Auckland or Wellington.

鈥淲hen we go home, we talk about what families talk about 鈥 some employees present at work is not relevant.鈥

He denied the worker was ever paid with cash, was owed any money, and that Tana oversaw him working for cash during a first day trial.

Davidson and听Swarbrick听fronted morning media to respond to the allegations. Davidson acknowledged to RNZ that the incident showed the party was going through tough times.

Swarbrick told 九一星空无限talk ZB鈥檚 Mike Hosking they are 鈥渄eeply serious allegations鈥.

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the听Herald听since 2022.

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