Labour candidate Kerrn 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 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."
Follow 1News' live updates here
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He said that because nominations had closed, Leoni's name will still appear on the ballot, but she no longer represents the party.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 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 remian 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%.
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)
SHARE ME