Green MP Tamatha Paul not apologising for misleading speech on property

The Green Party is refusing to apologise after one of its MPs made a false claim about a National MP in the House as a clip of the claim is viewed over one million times.

National’s Northland MP Grant McCallum is requesting an apology from Green MP Tamatha Paul after she incorrectly claimed Grant McCallum had bought a house in Wellington to take advantage of an accommodation allowance given to MPs.

In a heated general debate speech last month, Paul took a swing at MPs who she said had bought property since the Government’s changes to property taxes this term.

The interest deductibility scheme, often described by the opposition as “tax cuts for landlords”, was reinstated in 2024 after Labour phased it out over the previous two terms.

Property owners are able to claim 100% of the interest incurred on residential properties mortgages as a tax expense.

In her speech, Paul said Act Party MP Parmjeet Parmar, who owns the largest number of properties of any MP this term, bought five new houses since the coalition was elected.

National MP Katie Nimon was listed as having bought three residential properties.

“Let’s talk about the National and New Zealand First MPs” Paul continued, “Including Grant McCallum, who bought a house in Wellington, so they can pay themselves the accommodation allowance while taxpayers pay their mortgage off.”

Clips of the speech were posted by Paul to both Tiktok and Instagram, with the Tiktok version reaching over one million views.

McCallum corrected the record in the house, denying he had purchased a property in Wellington, and was paying it off with the accommodation allowance.

McCallum later took to Facebook to deny the allegations again.

“I did buy another home in Paihia. The reason is simple. It was so I had somewhere to stay when I was working in the mid and far north of my electorate. I do not rent it out,” the post said.

He said his own investment in the property saved taxpayers money because he didn’t need to stay in motels when he travelled to the Far North.

McCallum requested Paul apologise for the mistake, “preferably in Parliament”.

In a statement request, Newstalk ZB asked Paul whether she planned to apologise to McCallum.

A copy of his assets declared in pecuniary interests were included in the request, which didn’t list property in Wellington.

The statement Newstalk ZB received listed a number of donations from “the property industry” the coalition received during the 2023 election, which Paul said were “all on the public record”.

Paul also included that landlords received a “$2.9 billion tax cut” since interest deductibility was reinstated.

“National can play games through the media if they want, but the Green Party stands by calling out their record on housing and who’s actually benefiting from it,” the statement ended.

It did not include any mention of Grant McCallum or his request for an apology.

Paul declined Newstalk ZB’s requests for an interview.

Newstalk ZB followed up with Green Party Co-Leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick.

Davidson said the record had been corrected and was happy for the issue to be left at that.

“In the heat of the moment in the chamber, things are often said off the cuff by MPs across the house,” she said.

McCallum said he was disappointed that the Green Party’s leadership were letting it go.

“I think it reflects poorly on them and their leadership.

“The people of New Zealand, they want to hold other politicians to a high standard and have them do it to themselves,” he said.

McCallum said he still believes an apology from Paul would be appropriate.

Troy Matich is a political reporter with Newstalk ZB, working from Parliament’s press gallery. She joined NZME in 2025, previously working for RNZ as a producer for Morning Report.