Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni has resigned after footage emerged showing her meeting with gang members while wearing a party-branded jacket, holding up signs, and handing out pamphlets.
Leoni admitted she had attended a whānau gathering earlier this month where some gang members were present, but asserted she had not been to a gang pad during the campaign.
The footage obtained by Whakaata Māori showed the Tāmaki Makaurau candidate speaking at the gathering, holding up an election hoarding and giving pamphlets to attendees. Among those filmed were Mongrel Mob members.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins confirmed this morning that Leoni had resigned as the party's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate.
"I have made it very clear that campaigning alongside gangs is unacceptable," he said. "The footage that has emerged is inconsistent with the standards I expect of Labour candidates."
In a statement, Leoni said the whānau function was attended by mokopuna, kaumātua, gang members and non-gang members. She said it was "turned into a political weapon, used for political gain and media clicks".
"Is this really the kind of New Zealand we want to live in? Is this really the behaviour we want to model to our tamariki and mokopuna? Is this really how desperate some political leaders have become to cling onto power?
"The last thing I want is to see the National Party return to government, so I have made the decision to stand down as Labour’s candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau."
Leoni said she has known "many gang members who are doing their absolute best to turn their lives around".
"It is never easy, particularly when it is the only life you have ever known – when you’re born into it.
"I cannot change who my whānau are or who I grew up with, nor would I ever turn my back on them. I have always tried to show them that there are other opportunities in life, in the hope that they might one day choose a different path for themselves and their tamariki."
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In his statement, Hipkins said he understood that families were "complex".
"You can’t choose your family, and I firmly believe people should be supported to leave gangs and turn their lives around.
"But candidates are responsible for their own choices, and when they fall short of the standard I expect, I will hold them to account."
He said that because nominations had closed, Leoni's name will still appear on the ballot, but she no longer represents the party.
Leoni said she was "proud" to have represented Labour and stood by her apology to Hipkins.
"Thank you to everyone who has supported me especially my core campaign team. Finally, I want everyone to know that I am okay. I will be back."
Leoni's resignation comes amid an unfolding saga sparked when several Green and Te Pāti Māori candidates attended a health and wellbeing event held at a Mongrel Mob pad, sharing photos with patched members.
Hipkins labelled the move a "huge error of judgement" and ruled out both Te Pāti Māori and the Greens from holding justice portfolios if they form the next government.
Te Pāti Māori's candidate for the electorate, Oriini Kaipara – who was among the candidates who attended the Mongrel Mob event – first raised Leoni's visit during a Whakaata Māori debate.
"Kerrin Leoni posted that she went to the same place a week before and once it hit the headlines for us and the Green Party, it was taken down.”
Leoni initially denied the claim and went on to say she has close whānau and family who are gang members.
“I will not turn my back on them or pretend they are not my whānau because of their associations.”
With Leoni's resignation, only two candidates remain fighting for the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate seat: Te Pāti Māori's Oriini Kaipara and the Green Party’s Florence Te Ohaere.
Kaipara and Leoni were the clear frontrunners in a recent Whakaata Māori-Curia poll, which put the TPM candidate at 33%, ahead of Leoni at 31%.
Labour's Māori campaign chair Willie Jackson described Leoni's resignation as "a real shame", saying she "knew the Nats would came after her if she stayed a candidate".
"Kerrin sadly made the wrong call in terms of attending a Gang whanau fundraiser and has paid the price, losing her position," he wrote in a Facebook post.
He praised Leoni's decision to step aside, saying she had shown courage and did not want to jeopardise Labour's election campaign.
"She was polling so well and would have gone very close to winning the seat so her loss is a real shame."
National, ACT blast 'totally negligent' Labour
National and ACT have blasted Labour after the footage of Leoni emerged.
National's campaign chair Simeon Brown said Hipkins had tried to distance himself from gangs "all the while his candidates are attending their fundraisers".
"Labour candidates are campaigning with the Mongrel Mob and then lying about it."
“Chris Hipkins has either lied to New Zealanders or has been totally negligent."
ACT deputy leader Nicole McKee said Hipkins had been "caught out lecturing other parties about their judgement while his candidates campaign with gang members".
“Even now he is saying that campaigning with gang members is acceptable, so long as it's not at their pad. What sort of distinction is that?"
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including connections between gangs and politicians cause more election drama, a speedy rescue in Australian floods, and why Donald Trump's angry at LeBron James. (Source: 1News)
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