'Campaigning alongside gangs is unacceptable' - Chris Hipkins announces Labour candidate's resignation after attending event with gang members

Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni has resigned after footage emerged of her campaigning at an event with Mongrel Mob members present. 

It follows a visit by Te Pāti Māori MPs Oriini Kaipara and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke and Green MP Hūhana Lyndon to Mongrel Mob members earlier this month, with Kaipara posting on Facebook the visit was to talk about the health and wellbeing of the Mob community. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins had been facing backlash over this, which saw him rule out the parties receiving law and order portfolios in a potential governing arrangement. 

Then on Wednesday evening, during the Whakaata Māori election debate for Tāmaki Makaurau, Kaipara said Leoni had "posted that she went to the same place a week before and once it hit the headlines for us and the Green Party, it was taken down." 

Leoni denied going to the gang pad.

On Thursday evening, a video emerged of Leoni at an event where Mongrel Mob members were present. She said she "attended a whānau function where some of those present were whānau gang members," Te Ao News reported. 

On Friday morning, Hipkins released a statement saying Leoni had resigned as a Labour candidate. 

"I have made it very clear that campaigning alongside gangs is unacceptable. The footage that has emerged is inconsistent with the standards I expect of Labour candidates," he said.

Hipkins said he understood that "families are complex."

"You can’t choose your family, and I firmly believe people should be supported to leave gangs and turn their lives around. But candidates are responsible for their own choices, and when they fall short of the standard I expect, I will hold them to account."

Leoni would still appear on the voting ballot as candidate nominations had closed, but Hipkins confirmed she was "no longer a Labour candidate and does not represent the party."