CCTV footage has emerged of Green MP Golriz Ghahraman allegedly shoplifting a handbag from Scotties Boutique in Ponsonby, Auckland.
The 43-year-old, who was the Green Party’s seventh-highest ranked list MP and previously held the party’s justice portfolio, is accused of stealing from the store on December 23, 2023. The police say they are investigating two other similar thefts by the politician.
Ghahraman has stepped down from Parliament after being accused of shoplifting on three separate occasions.
In a statement, Ghahraman said stress relating to her work had led her to "act in ways that are completely out of character. I am not trying to excuse my actions, but I do want to explain them".
"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," she said.
She said she had fallen short of the high standards expected of elected representatives, and apologised.
"I have let down a lot of people and I am very sorry," the statement said. "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.
"The best thing for my mental health is to resign as a Member of Parliament and to focus on my recovery and to find other ways to work for positive change in the world."
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw, in a separate statement, said Ghahraman had been the leading voice in Parliament for human rights, truly independent foreign policy, and electoral reform for six years, but "it is clear to us that Ms Ghahraman is in a state of extreme distress".
"She has taken responsibility and apologised. We support the decision she has made to resign.
"We are deeply sorry to see Ms Ghahraman leave under these circumstances and we wish her all the best for the future."
They said she had worked tirelessly on behalf of her communities.
"Nothing detracts from that work and we know she will continue to support those communities in future. We cannot comment on the details of allegations while police investigations are continuing."
Ghahraman also thanked Scotties Boutique "for the kindness and empathy they have shown me", and asked for space and privacy so she could get better.
The allegations involved Auckland clothing retailer Scotties Boutique and Wellington clothing store Cre8iveworx.
Police confirmed they were investigating reports of an incident on December 23. Police repeatedly refused to comment on any second alleged incident.
The Green Party confirmed on January 10, 2024, Ghahraman had temporarily stood down from her portfolio roles.
The leaders later confirmed they had been informed of an allegation on December 27, as well as a second incident at the same store.
They had not said anything at the time, they said, because the store involved did not want it to be made public and was happy to wait for Ghahraman to return from a long-planned overseas trip.
The third alleged incident to be made public - at Cre8iveworx on Wellington's Cuba Street - was claimed to have occurred on 26 October last year, about a week and a half after the election.
An email was sent from Cre8iveworx to the police-run "Eyes on" crime prevention network on Monday afternoon, naming Ghahraman and including images of her in the store in October.
The email claimed she targeted a "substantial value of goods", and said it was "beyond disappointing that someone in this position should be targeting a small independent boutique".
Ghahraman was elected on the Green Party list, ranked 7th. She held 10 spokesperson portfolios, including Justice, Defence, and Foreign Affairs.
Her resignation allows the next person on the list to enter Parliament - former Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
Davidson and Shaw are expected to speak to the media shortly.
Ghahraman has not been charged.