Kaipara defends Mongrel Mob visit: 'I see whānau'
Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara has defended a visit to a Mongrel Mob pad in Auckland during the election campaign, saying she sees family members where others see gang members.
Kaipara, who represents the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate, visited the pad alongside other Te Pāti Māori MPs and Green Party MPs. Candidates posed for photos and selfies with patched Mongrel Mob members, and Kaipara later posted photos and videos of the visit Stuff.
Speaking to RNZ's Midday Report with Guyon Espiner, Kaipara said she had promised during the visit to restore mana to Mongrel Mob members RNZ.
"You see Mongrel Mob, I see whānau," she said. She said she sees mums and dads and uncles when looking at the Mongrel Mob.
"I will not ever turn my back on whānau in need," Kaipara said.
The visit has drawn criticism from other parties. National leader Christopher Luxon told RNZ he was proud there were 2000 more people in prison, with half of them gang members. National justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith described Kaipara's comments as "outrageous".
Labour leader Chris Hipkins ruled out restoring mana to Mongrel Mob members under a government he leads. He said Labour would not support changes to the gang patch ban, the law that bans gang insignia in public places.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said the comments about restoring the mana of the Mongrel Mob were made by Oriini Kaipara, not the Green Party, and were for Te Pāti Māori to answer to.
