The Electoral Commission has referred suspended Green MP Darleen Tana and the publishers of Verve Magazine to police over an alleged failure to include a promoter statement in an election advertisement.
Published in Verve Magazine's May 2023 edition, the advertisement was a profile on Tana and her bid for Parliament in last year's election. However, it allegedly did not include a promoter statement - as required under section 204F of the Electoral Act 1993.
"As this matter is now with the Police, the Electoral Commission will not be commenting further," it said in a statement on Monday evening.
Newshub reported last month that the Green Party had alerted the Commission to the advertisement placed by Tana after finding it might not have complied with electoral laws.
The Commission noted that while it does not normally name individuals referred to police, it has done so in this case as the Green Party has already spoken publicly about the matter.
Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick told reporters at the time she had been made aware of the advertisement on May 18.
"The Greens... take very seriously compliance with electoral law, so we've had discussions with the Green Party itself and the party has referred that to the Electoral Commission," Swarbrick said.
Not including a promoter statement could lead to a fine of up to $40,000.
Tana, a first-term list MP, was stood down in March amid an investigation into her level of knowledge regarding allegations of migrant exploitation at her husband's business. Barrister Rachel Burt was commissioned by the Green Party to carry out the probe.
According to the Greens, the complaints included allegations against Tana, however she has not been a director or shareholder of the business since 2019.
On Friday, it was revealed that Tana was reportedly in charge of handling the wages of an ex-migrant worker who claims they were exploited.
