Tamatha Paul Cancels Defund Police Campaign After Golriz Steals Her Jacket

WELLINGTON, NZ — Tamatha Paul, the Green Party MP for Wellington Central, has temporarily halted her campaign for defunding the police following an incident after her former colleague, Golriz Ghahraman, allegedly stole her jacket.

The theft occurred during a campaign meeting at a Wellington bar, forcing Tamatha Paul to seek police help. Ghahraman, a former Green Party MP convicted of shoplifting, is said to have taken the item, leaving Paul to reassess her thoughts on defunding the police.

Speaking to reporters outside the bar, Paul addressed her supporters ready to take the streets. “I’ve been pushing for a system where communities handle disputes without police intervention,” she said. “This incident challenges me to think about what that looks like when the community screws you over.”

Ghahraman, who resigned from Parliament after pleading guilty to stealing nearly $9,000 worth of goods from boutique stores, has not responded to the allegations. Paul’s campaign team is now taking time to regroup, with Paul now emphasising a need to refund the police.

At publishing time, Tamatha Paul has confirmed a campaign to refund the police.