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Metiria Turei answers questions from reporters in Wellington today. Nick Perry via PA Images

Greens co-leader in New Zealand resigns after admitting to welfare fraud

Metiria Turei revealed she wrongfully claimed welfare benefits to support her baby while studying for a law degree in the early 1990s.

NEW ZEALAND’S POLITICAL landscape faced another shake up just six weeks before a general election, as the co-leader of the Green Party quit following her admission of welfare and electoral fraud.

The Greens upheaval came as the main opposition Labour Party received a significant boost a week after dumping Andrew Little in favour of the charismatic 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern.

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei resigned an hour before the release of an opinion poll showing a dramatic one-third slump in support for her party to 8.3%.

Turei had defied political and media pressure to resign for more than three weeks since she first revealed wrongfully claiming a benefit to help support her baby while studying for a law degree in the early 1990s.

The Labour Party, which has the Greens as a coalition partner, benefited from its own leadership shakeup rising nine points to 33.1%, while support for Ardern as potential prime minister jumped 17.6% to 26.3%, just behind incumbent Bill English on 27.7%.

English’s centre-right National Party, which leads the ruling coalition, remained the most popular party in the Newshub poll on a steady 44.4%.

Newshub The poll results from 31 July when the Greens were on 13%. Newshub Newshub

New Zealand First overtook the Greens as the third most popular party on 9.2% and remained the likely kingmakers in a coalition government.

Turei’s admission, which she said was intended to highlight the plight of beneficiaries, at first boosted the Greens in the polls, but the tide turned when further instances of fraud emerged including her enrolment at a false address to vote for a friend in the 1993 election.

Turei had insisted as late as yesterday that she would stay as co-leader until the election, even if the Greens plummeted in the polls.

But as Newshub prepared to release its damning figures, the 47-year-old five-term MP stepped aside.

- © AFP, 2017

Read: Sexism row in New Zealand after party leader is told public has right to know her parenthood plans

Read: Macron abandons plan to make his wife France’s first-ever First Lady

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
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    Aug 9th 2017, 3:43 PM

    Yeah, it’s the voter fraud one that’s just given a passing mention that’s far worse.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:53 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: What ? She changed her enrollment to vote from one electorate to another, it’s not like she enrolled multiple times

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Aug 9th 2017, 3:53 PM

    “welfare and electoral fraud”

    Why drop the latter and focus on the former?

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    Mute Jimmy Farrell
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    Aug 9th 2017, 4:09 PM

    @Guybrush Threepwood: exactly! Or why not just say multiple counts of fraud?

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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Aug 9th 2017, 4:52 PM

    A bad day for New Zealand feminists.

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    Mute Boganity
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    Aug 9th 2017, 9:54 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: if that was a troll it failed miserably

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    Mute MaryLoonyMcDonald
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    Aug 9th 2017, 4:55 PM

    Journal stasi at work deleting comments again

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Aug 9th 2017, 6:30 PM

    Twenty years ago I drew dole and worked a few nixers. So I can’t run for taoiseach?

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    Mute Turlough O' Connor
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    Aug 9th 2017, 10:48 PM

    @Martin Flood: Jesus Martin, be very careful the Stasi blue shirts on the journal will be all over you like a rash…
    And God forbid if you become homeless…

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    Mute Kath Noonan
    Favourite Kath Noonan
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    Aug 9th 2017, 7:09 PM

    She could learn from our politicians, they’ve robbed us blind and still have the neck to stay put.

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    Mute Martin Flood
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    Aug 10th 2017, 1:59 AM

    @Kath Noonan: “What’s in it for me?”

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