Kerrin Leoni says some at her early October whānau function were gang members

Labour candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau Kerrin Leoni has said she attended a whānau function in early October where some of those present were whānau gang members. RNZ has seen a video of her at a whare, the Māori word for house, with Mongrel Mob members. Te Ao Māori News has also obtained video showing her at an event for Mongrel Mob members and their whānau.

In the RNZ video, Leoni is wearing her Labour jacket. She is holding a sign that shows her and Labour leader Chris Hipkins, and handing out flyers. She is heard speaking to Mongrel Mob members about enrolling to vote and changing the government.

Leoni, a former Auckland councillor, has acknowledged that she has close whānau who are gang members. She said she has not attended a gang pad, the clubhouse a gang uses, at all during this election campaign.

Te Pāti Māori candidate Oriini Kaipara said in a debate on Whakaata Māori, the Māori television network, that Leoni had recently been campaigning with gang members. Kaipara also claimed that Leoni had deleted a social media post about campaigning with gang members. She further claimed that Leoni had visited the same gang pad that Kaipara had visited.

Hipkins criticised Green and Te Pāti Māori candidates for a recent election campaign visit to a Mongrel Mob pad. He said it was unacceptable for politicians to go out and celebrate with gangs. He said he accepted Leoni's statement that she had not visited a gang pad as part of her campaigning. He said he does not expect to see any Labour MPs or candidates campaigning in gang pads.