By James Murray with NZPA
ACT MP David Garrett has resigned from Parliament following revelations he used a dead baby's ID to fake a passport.
His resignation will be effective as of tonight.
Mr Garrett said in a statement he had considered his position but realised it was untenable to stay on.
"I have therefore made the decision to resign from Parliament with immediate effect. I have advised the Speaker of my resignation accordingly."
"As a result of my own foolish actions 26 years ago I now have other battles to face," Mr Garrett said.
"While I deal with them, I intend to do my best to minimise the terrible effect all this has had on my family, who bear no responsibility for my actions, either in the distant or recent past."
The decision means Hilary Calvert will become the new ACT list MP.
Garrett had already resigned from ACT following knowledge of his discharge without conviction for creating a false ID emerged.
Previously, the Law And Order spokesperson had been in hot water over an assault conviction in Tonga was revealed by Campbell Live.
Earlier today, Garrett claimed he was the victim of “dark forces” in a magazine interview, accusing ACT Deputy Heather Roy of leaking the details of his past.
Mrs Roy denied being behind the leak.
"I knew very little of the information released last week. It wasn't me, it wasn't anyone associated with me."
As for the dark forces; "I think everybody might have been reading too much Star Wars myself," she said.
ACT leader Rodney Hide’s leadership has been questioned during this affair as he was aware of the problems in Garrett’s past.
Prime Minister John Key has given Mr Hide his backing though, while being clear that he thought Garrett should resign.
Mr Hide said he was made aware of Mr Garrett's resignation via email and had not spoken to him.
The fact Mr Garrett had resigned did not mean he should never have been in Parliament, Mr Hide said.
"I wonder when we do things in our past, and appear before the courts, and pay the price that the judge decides, how long that should bar us from getting on with our lives."
It was difficult for MPs to decide what to declare, he said.
"I don't think there's a person in New Zealand, and I doubt there's any in our Parliament that haven't got things they've done in the past...that they're ashamed about or embarrassed about."
Mr Hide said he had been wracking his brain and could not think of anything he had not declared that would endanger his political career.
While the situation would impact on ACT, Mr Hide said it showed the party had given Mr Garrett a second chance.
Mr Garrett had made all of New Zealand safer, he said.
"A lot of politicians have sat in this House and they haven't made anyone better off because they haven't done anything."
ACT MP Heather Roy, who was recently ousted as deputy leader, said she had tried to call Mr Garrett but he was not answering.
Mr Key said while ACT had its own internal issues he was confident of its ongoing support.
"They've earned the right to have five Members of Parliament...I'm absolutely convinced that those MPs will vote for a National government."
3 News / NZPA
source: newshub archive
