MP David Clendon leaves with no regrets

Green MP David Clendon is passionate about the environment, and has never minded getting his hands dirty.

Kerikeri-based Green MP David Clendon will end his parliamentary career next month with no regrets regarding the action that led to his withdrawal from the Green Party caucus.

Mr Clendon, who is in his third term, and colleague Kennedy Graham, resigned on Monday over co-leader Metiria Turei's refusal to stand down after admitting social welfare and electoral fraud in the 1990s.

Mr Clendon, who does not see a return to Parliament in his future, said his only option had been to resign if he was to remain true to his beliefs and values.

He had not taken the decision lightly, however, discussing it with his family and trusted friends before announcing it on Monday.

He utterly rejected party general manager Sarah Helm's claims that he and Mr Graham had been asked to resign before this year's election list was drawn up, and that their resignations were in protest over the rankings. (Mr Graham was ranked 8th, which on current polling would have guaranteed his return to Parliament. Mr Clendon, who fell from 11th in 2014 to 16th, would have needed a strong election result).

Ms Helm, he added, had withdrawn accusations that he and Mr Graham were effectively lazy and under-performing. Nor did he agree with co-leader James Shaw's view that he and Mr Graham had betrayed the party, or that he himself had been betrayed.

"It's not a matter of betrayal," he said.

"The party and its leadership made the decision that they thought was right. I'm disappointed, but we have fundamentally differing points of view. The outcome of that is what it is."

Meanwhile he had greatly enjoyed his eight years in Parliament, a "wonderful opportunity" that had been a privilege and "generally" a pleasure.

It was a bit soon, Mr Clendon added, to be making plans for the future. First he would be taking a couple of weeks off, but beyond that he was looking forward to spending more time in the Far North community, of which he had been part for the last five years and had come to love.

"I belong to a number of organisations, but I've not had time to fully commit, and I'm looking forward to being much more actively involved," he said.

Mr Clendon and Mr Graham will remain as MPs until the election, but will not take part in caucus events or campaigning.