Kerrin Leoni resigns as Labour candidate after gang campaign video

Kerrin Leoni resigned as the Labour Party candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau on Friday morning after video footage surfaced showing her campaigning alongside Mongrel Mob members. The clip, which emerged late in the election cycle, captures the candidate wearing Labour-branded gear while distributing campaign material in the presence of gang members, according to 1News.

While the resignation marks the end of her candidacy, a spokesperson confirmed her name remains on the ballot. Because nominations closed before the footage came to light, parties cannot replace a candidate with another candidate.

A Standard of Conduct

Labour leader Chris Hipkins condemned the footage, stating it was “inconsistent” with the standards he expected from his candidates. Dr. Bryce Edwards, director of the Democracy Project, argued that Hipkins’ previous criticism of Green Party and Te Pāti Māori candidates for similar associations left him no choice but to force Leoni out once the evidence became public.

“There’s no doubt that Chris Hipkins would’ve been extremely reluctant to bring this to the conclusion he has, but he could obviously see that it wasn’t viable for Leoni to stay as a candidate for Labour,” Edwards said. He noted that the timing cripples the party’s ability to shift the public agenda, particularly now that major televised debates have concluded.

Conflicting Accounts of Engagement

The resignation follows weeks of friction over political ties to gangs. During an October 21 debate on Whakaata Māori, Te Pāti Māori candidate Oriini Kaipara accused Leoni of visiting a gang pad. Leoni initially denied the claim, later telling Te Ao Māori News that she had simply attended a “whānau event” where some of her relatives happened to be gang members.

Accusations of Political Hypocrisy

The controversy has devolved into a broader partisan brawl. Hipkins has accused the National Party of hypocrisy, alleging a double standard regarding how different parties are held accountable for similar associations. Scrutiny has intensified for National leader Christopher Luxon and Minister Tama Potaka after photographs of them with patched gang members circulated.

Potaka explained that a photo of him with gang members was taken at the January 2024 Hui-ā-motu event, where he was approached by an old school friend. For his part, Luxon maintained that his own interactions occurred during public official duties, such as the Abuse in State Care inquiry process, rather than during campaign activity. He emphasized that he remains intolerant of gangs.

A Stalled Electoral Process

The campaign narrative remains dominated by these accusations. As parties continue to trade barbs over their respective histories with gang members, the status of the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate ballot remains unresolved.

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