Metiria Turei's career likely over, has no regrets

Metiria Turei's political career looks likely to be over.

In an interview with the ODT, a philosophical Metiria Turei says she has no regrets about her career-changing admission of benefit fraud.

The former Green Party co-leader lost to Labour's Rino Tirikatene in the Te Tai Tonga electorate by almost 4000 votes.

Turei was removed from the Green Party list when she stepped down as co-leader after she admitted to benefit fraud 20 years ago.

She came under growing pressure after she admitted to the historical offending and eventually gave up her position after eight years as co-leader.

When she stepped down in August Turei said that if she continued as co-leader it would undermine all the Green Party's hard work over many years.

The scrutiny, which had "become unbearable, frankly" was the main reason for standing down, she said.

She had been a Member of Parliament since 2002.

- Additional reporting Otago Daily Times