Video of Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni with Mongrel Mob members prompts questions for Hipkins

Chris Hipkins has deferred questions after footage emerged of Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni speaking to members of the Mongrel Mob gang, according to NZ Herald.

The video shows Leoni talking to the gang members about enrolling to vote and changing the government. RNZ reported that Hipkins faced questions after the footage was seen, and it has been widely discussed on the campaign trail.

Leoni is an Auckland councillor who is standing as a Labour candidate in the election. The election is on 7 November.

The Mongrel Mob is a New Zealand gang. Its members have been the subject of a long-running public debate over how the government should deal with gang crime, and the footage has drawn attention to contact between politicians and gangs during the campaign.

Hipkins has not yet given a detailed answer on the video.