Marama Davidson says attack on Helen Haines is a chilling warning

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has described the car strike on Australian MP Helen Haines as a chilling warning. In an interview with Mata, with Mihingarangi Forbes, Davidson said she felt "a chill" up her body when she learned of the attack.

Haines is the Independent MP for Indi. She was struck by a white Toyota LandCruiser on Monday, 19 October, outside her electorate office in north-east Victoria. ABC News reported that she was standing at the rear of her car when the vehicle entered Murphy Street from the direction of the river and hit her.

Haines lost both legs. Her husband announced on Wednesday that both had been amputated, CNN reported. The attack has been described as allegedly deliberate. The 65-year-old MP's electorate office is in north-east Victoria.

A 43-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, has been charged over the incident and is expected to face court, according to ABC News.

Davidson expressed sympathy and aroha to Haines, her family and her community. She said she wanted politicians to remain accessible in Aotearoa. She also said people in politics have a responsibility to use their platform to calm rhetoric and divisiveness, and not to tolerate threats or harm from anyone, including their own supporters.

Davidson also spoke about her own experience. In 2023, she was injured when a motorcycle associated with Destiny Church clipped her stomach as she crossed the road after a counter-protest to anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker at Auckland's Albert Park. She told Mata that a person associated with Destiny Church was identified and charged over that collision.

Tamatha Paul said debates held in Wellington North have four uniformed police officers and two parliamentary security guards on hand.

Davidson said that if the Greens were part of the next government, they would advocate for blocking Israel from attending the 2027 Pacific Islands Forum, which is to be hosted in New Zealand.