Green MP Golriz Ghahraman resigns: ‘I have let down a lot of people’
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has resigned from Parliament amid accusations of shoplifting from a high-end Auckland boutique and a Wellington clothing store, Cre8iveworx.
In a statement, Ghahraman wrote: “I have let down a lot of people and I am very sorry.”
“The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a Member of Parliament and to focus on my recovery and to find other ways to work for positive change in the world.
“I will therefore be resigning from Parliament immediately.”
The Green Party co-leaders spoke at a media conference this afternoon.
James Shaw said Ghahraman had been subject to continuous threats of sexual violence, physical violence, death threats 'since the day she was elected to Parliament'.
'That has added a higher level of stress than is experienced by most members of Parliament.'
He said there were police investigations into those threats 'almost the entire time' she had been an MP.
'If you are living with that level of threat in what is already quite a stressful situation, then there are going to be consequences for that,“ he said.
Ghahraman said it was “clear to me that my mental health is being badly affected by the stresses relating to my work”.
“This has led me to act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them.
Ghahraman said the public “should, rightly, expect the highest standards of behaviour from their elected representatives”.
“I fell short. I’m sorry. It’s not a behaviour I can explain because it’s not rational in any way, and after medical evaluation, I understand I’m not well. The mental health professional I see says my recent behaviour is consistent with recent events giving rise to extreme stress response, and relating to previously unrecognised trauma.
“With that in mind, I don't want to hide behind my mental health problems, and I take full responsibility for my actions which I deeply regret.”
Co-leader Marama Davidson said it was a sad day, and they would continue to support Ghahraman.
Davidson said she was “losing a friend and a colleague who I have been close to and have worked with for six years”.
'We know this is the right decision for her to apologise and resign from Parliament for her wellbeing, for her to be able to focus.
“Our responsibility is to make sure she has the support that is needed and to continue to give her aroha and compassion.“
Asked about the time taken around the Green Party's response, Davidson said 'people can understand how important it is to have face to face and in person conversations with such allegations, and also to allow to have the support she needs'.
Davidson and Shaw said in a statement it was clear Ghahraman “is in a state of extreme distress”.
“She has taken responsibility and apologised. We support the decision she has made to resign. We are deeply sorry to see Ms Ghahraman leave under these circumstances and we wish her all the best for the future.
“Ms Ghahraman has worked tirelessly on behalf of her communities. Nothing detracts from that work and we know she will continue to support those communities in the future.”
Ghahraman thanked “the many communities and people who have supported me over the years”, and wanted to “especially thank Scotties Boutique for the kindness and empathy they have shown me”.
Scotties Boutique was the store in relation to the Auckland allegations.
“It is a great honour to serve as a Member of Parliament,” Ghahraman said.
“I am proud of my advocacy work on human rights and foreign affairs, and particularly proud of campaigns that resulted in practical improvements to the electoral laws governing donations and overseas voting.”
It is alleged that Ghahraman shoplifted from Ponsonby on December 23 and one other time. New claims emerged on Monday when Cre8iveworx said it believed Ghahraman was in the premises in October last year.
A police spokesperson confirmed they received a shoplifting report from Cre8iveworx about an incident on October 26. The spokesperson on Monday told Stuff “inquiries into the matter are ongoing”.
This was the third shoplifting allegation against Ghahraman. On Friday, the Green Party confirmed it was speaking with the Auckland store Scotties Boutique after becoming aware of two allegations that its MP had stolen from the luxury store. She has not been charged.
Before entering politics in 2017, Ghahraman was a human rights lawyer. She was the first refugee to become an MP in New Zealand.
Ghahraman had nine portfolios, including justice, foreign affairs, human rights, defence, refugees and women. She earned a salary of $163,961 as a list MP.