Turei goes as Greens hit in poll
Metiria Turei has stepped down from the co-leadership of the Green Party in the wake of controversy over her admission that she committed benefit fraud.
Turei made the announcement late yesterday afternoon, saying both she and her family had come under ‘‘extreme scrutiny’’, and she would remove herself from the party’s list.
She will continue to campaign for the party in the Te Tai Tonga electorate.
It came as a Newshub poll showed the party fell to 8.3 per cent support, dropping 4.7 per cent and, in doing so, losing its position as the third highest polling party.
Labour jumped 9 per cent to 33.1 per cent, with National at 44.4 per cent. NZ First fell 3.8 per cent, to 9.2 per cent.
The poll also provided a big boost for new Labour leader Jacinda Ardern, who skyrocketed 17.6 percentage points to reach 26.3 per cent in the preferred prime minister race.
She fell just behind Prime Minister Bill English, who was at 27.7 per cent.
Turei learned of the polling a few hours before making her announcement, but maintained it was the scrutiny of her family and the distraction her admission had caused that were behind the move.
Turei admitted she lied to Work and Income about her living costs – failing to inform them she had extra flatmates while a single mother receiving the Domestic Purposes Benefit between 1993 and 1998.
‘‘I knew that by telling my personal story, it would help people hear and understand the reality of poverty.
‘‘And that has happened – thousands of people have contacted the Green Party with their stories, and many have come forward to tell these in the media as well,’’ she said.
‘‘I also knew that it would open the way for people to criticise me – and I knew the risks of that – but the intensity of those attacks has become too much for my family, and they are now getting in the way of our ability to communicate our solutions – not just for poverty, but for water, climate change and the environment.’’
The decision to step down was her own and the party had not asked her to resign, she said.
Co-leader James Shaw will become the party’s sole leader for the duration of the election cam- paign. The party will select a new female co-leader at a general meeting.
In a statement, Ardern acknowledged Turei’s ‘‘enormous’’ contribution to politics.
‘‘In my nine years in Parliament I have seen MPs from almost all parties resign under tough circumstances. Behind almost every single one has been a history of working hard and championing the people they have represented.
‘‘Metiria has always had a steadfast commitment to social justice, especially championing the rights of children, and changing the Government – a challenge I know we will both remain focused on.’’
ACT leader David Seymour, who had called for Turei’s resignation, said the move was a ‘‘major victory for taxpayers, for honest beneficiaries, and for decency in politics’’.