Kerrin Leoni resigns as Labour's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate

Kerrin Leoni has resigned as Labour's candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate in Auckland, after video emerged of her campaigning with gang members. Labour leader Chris Hipkins said she is no longer a Labour candidate and does not represent the party.

Leoni is an Auckland councillor. Because candidate nominations have closed, her name will still appear on the ballot paper.

RNZ reported that video it had seen showed Leoni wearing a Labour Party jacket while speaking with Mongrel Mob members about enrolling to vote and changing the government. Whakaata Māori obtained video of Leoni at what appears to be a gang event, according to Stuff.

Hipkins said campaigning alongside gangs is unacceptable. He said the footage was inconsistent with the standards he expects of Labour candidates.

Leoni has acknowledged that she has whānau, or family, in gangs. She said she attended a whānau function where some gang members were present, but that it was not a gang pad, or clubhouse. Earlier, she had denied spending time with gang members while visiting whānau.

Oriini Kaipara said Leoni also visited a Mongrel Mob pad. NZ Herald reported that Labour denied this.

National's Paul Goldsmith said Labour is "all over the place" on gangs. He also said Leoni had the choice to wear a Labour-branded jacket, according to NZ Herald.