Former MPs leave party

Wellington: Two of New Zealand First’s former MPs, Tracey Martin and Jenny Marcroft, have left the party.

Ms Martin served as a minister in the coalition government and was an MP from 2011 to last year, when NZ First failed to return to Parliament.

She said it was no longer the party she had been closely involved with and she had no choice but to quit.

Ms Marcroft said her primary reason for quitting was for job opportunities, but the party’s culture and gender imbalance were other factors. — RNZ