Following revelations earlier this week that suspended Green Party MP Darleen Tana commissioned a paid magazine article about herself in the lead-up to last year’s election which did not include the required statutory disclaimers, the Green Party has now provided evidence to ZB Plus which confirms that the party paid for the article.  

Tana's electoral returns show that she spent $2415 on the article, published in Verve magazine in May last year.  

On Tuesday, the Green Party referred the article to the Electoral Commission because it did not contain the statement required by electoral law to show that it was an advertisement for Tana and her election candidacy.  

One of the co-owners of Verve told ZB Plus that the invoice had been paid by Bike & Beyond, the business owned and operated by Tana's husband, Christian Hoff-Nielsen, and that that is recorded in the magazine's accounts. However, the magazine has declined to provide evidence to ZB Plus which substantiates their claim.

The Green Party yesterday gave ZB Plus a screenshot from one of the Green Party’s bank accounts showing that the payment was made from the party’s account to the account listed in the Verve invoice for $2415 on June 28, 2023. 

Bike & Beyond has been contacted by ZB Plus but refused to comment. 

Tana was suspended after allegations of migrant exploitation involving Hoff-Nielsen’s bicycle company. Hoff-Nielsen denied the allegations at the time and told the Herald: “This is not a news story, there is no news.” 

The independent investigation, launched on March 14 and led by barrister Rachel Burt, has used up $43,000 of Parliamentary Service funding available to the Green Party leaders’ office. 

The investigation has lasted nine weeks, and it was unclear when it would conclude. 

Burt has refused to comment on the latest controversy involving the embattled Green Party MP and would not confirm whether it will be included in her investigation.  

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ZB Plus understands the Electoral Commission has asked the magazine to respond by May 28 to the allegations and that it has also contacted Tana. 

Questioned on Tuesday about the latest controversy, Green Party co-leader, Chloe Swarbrick said: "I have been made aware of this in the last few hours and as I understand it, it was declared to the Electoral Commission, but it did not carry with it an authorisation statement.  The Greens take really seriously compliance with electoral law.  To that effect we have had conversations with the Green Party itself and my understanding is that the Party has referred this on to the Electoral Commission."