Following the announcement to Green members that they will hear from Elizabeth Kerekere tomorrow night, party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw have outlined their reasons for commissioning an internal inquiry into whether there is a “pattern of behaviour” on the part of the MP “that may be affecting staff wellbeing or the trust of caucus colleagues”, and implicitly warned the MP not to stray into discussion about the investigation.
In a statement, the co-leaders laid out the basis for the inquiry. “Green Party MPs work tirelessly to deliver positive change for Aotearoa, and we have a long history of celebrating our individual and collective successes together. On April 5, Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere sent messages to a group of Green Party MPs and staff that appeared to go against these values,” they said. “Our immediate concern was maintaining the trust and unity of our caucus. As co-leaders we began a formal internal process. We wanted to look formally into whether Dr Kerekere’s messages on April 5 were part of a pattern of behaviour that may be affecting staff wellbeing or the trust of caucus colleagues.”
Concerns have been raised about the timing and duration of the inquiry, with some members concerned that it will not be complete by the time members are required to return votes on the list ranking that could determine Kerekere’s political future.
The statement continued: “Consistent with Green Party values, we made clear that the process should be fair to everyone involved. In the absence of an agreement on what could be said, the parties involved have refrained from saying anything. We understand that Dr Elizabeth Kerekere has accepted an invitation to address the party membership. We remain committed to an internal process that is fair, and provides an opportunity to hear from MPs and present and former staff in confidence on matters that may have an impact on our ability to carry out our important work on behalf of the people of Aotearoa.”