Drag race for gang vote lets down Māori voters

“You’d think candidates in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election would be focussed on health, housing, education, or tackling family violence. Instead, Labour and Te Pāti Māori are locked in a contest over who’s toughest on bringing back gang patches,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Voters deserve better than a race to see who can be cuddlier to gang members. Māori are more likely than any other group to be victims of crime – 34 per cent of victims are Māori according to the 2024 Crime and Victims Survey.

“Leadership means saying enough is enough. The best thing these candidates can do for the Māori communities they want to represent is to be tough on crime, not soft on gangs.

“The Leader of Te Pāti Māori has even claimed their position reflects the ‘Māori agenda.’ They don’t speak for all Māori. For many Māori, the real agenda is keeping their families safe from gang violence, not helping gangs flaunt patches.

“When this by-election comes down to which candidate want gangs to wear their colours the most, it’s no wonder voters are disengaged.”