New Zealand Parliament member Golriz Ghahraman, a prominent figure in the Green Party, has tendered her resignation amidst mounting accusations of shoplifting, substantiated by CCTV footage currently under police investigation.
The allegations involve three instances of theft from two clothing stores, one in Auckland and another in Wellington.
In her resignation statement, Ms Ghahraman, who once held the justice portfolio for her party and made history in 2017 as New Zealand’s first refugee in government, expressed remorse for her actions. She attributed her unusual behaviour to potential work-related stress, emphasising its departure from her usual character.
“I have let down a lot of people, and I am very sorry,” she stated, acknowledging that her actions fell short of the high standards expected from elected representatives.
While the 42-year-old politician has not faced criminal charges, she admitted in her resignation statement that her recent conduct is challenging to explain rationally.
Following a medical evaluation, she revealed insights from mental health professionals who associated her behaviour with extreme stress response and previously unrecognised trauma.
“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,” she said. “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.
The controversy escalated with the emergence of CCTV footage allegedly capturing Ms Ghahraman taking a designer handbag from an Auckland boutique, leading to her decision to step down on Tuesday.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw responded to her resignation by highlighting the persistent threats of sexual violence, physical harm, and death that she has faced since entering parliament.
Mr Shaw underscored the heightened stress Ms Ghahraman endured, referencing ongoing police investigations into these threats.
Ms Ghahraman, a former UN human rights lawyer who fled Iran as a child with her family, expressed the challenges she faced due to her Iranian heritage, gender, and public stances.
Co-leader Marama Davidson affirmed support for Ms Ghahraman, acknowledging the distress she was experiencing and pledging ongoing support from the Green Party.
