Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he had spoken to Potaka and confirmed the photograph was taken at a Kīngitanga event three years ago.
“He wasn’t campaigning, he wasn’t engaging gang members to ask them to get organised to vote for the National Party.”
Luxon said he had not spoken to Potaka about the photograph but rejected suggestions it undermined National’s stance on gangs.
Christopher Luxon defended National MP Tama Potaka after a photograph emerged of him posing with patched gang members. Photo / Mark Mitchell
“He had a photo with a gang member at a big event… he’s not raising funds for the Mongrel Mob.”
Mitchell said there was a clear distinction between being approached by gang members at a public event and deliberately attending a gang fundraiser.
“I’ve had gang members approach me at public events. I’ve been very clear with them and suggested to them they might want to leave the gang.”
He said he had also offered support to gang members wanting to leave, particularly those with families.
“There’s a big difference between that and fronting up to a gang fundraiser.”
National MP Tama Potaka was photographed alongside patched Mongrel Mob members at a Kīngitanga event three years ago
Mitchell said Potaka had been put in a position where someone wanted to take a photograph with him and he did not want to cause a scene.
“I wouldn’t read anything into that other than the fact that they were trying to take a photo opportunity with him in the Kīngitanga and he was trying to be respectful and not create a scene.”
Challenged over National’s previous criticism of politicians being photographed with gang members, Mitchell rejected the comparison.
“You’re conflating two issues here, and I hope you’re not doing it intentionally.”
He said politicians were photographed with thousands of people at public events and could not be expected to know everyone’s background.
“There is a huge difference between that and actively going to a gang pad or a function organised by the gangs, a fundraiser by the Rogue chapter that’s very well known for violence and for peddling meth.”
Hipkins, speaking to media in Wellington, said Luxon had made associating with gangs a “huge issue” in the campaign.
“He now needs to answer why he thinks National MPs should be held to a different standard, to the standard he demands of others.”
Asked about Luxon’s claim Labour wasn’t consisent in its position on gang association, Hipkins said: “I’m astounded to have those claims from Christopher Luxon today, if anyone is exhibiting they have a massive double standard, it’s Christopher Luxon.”
He rejected the suggestion Leoni’s resignation had tanked his campaign.
“Absolutely not, the National Party can explain their own hypocrisy.”
The controversy follows a turbulent week for Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori after politicians and candidates were photographed alongside patched Mongrel Mob members.
Te Pāti Māori MPs Oriini Kaipara and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, alongside Green MP Hūhana Lyndon and candidate Michel Mulipola, attended a Mongrel Mob gathering described as a whānau, health and wellbeing election hui.
Photographs of the politicians posing with gang members, including Mongrel Mob life member Harry Tam, sparked criticism from National.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins described the visit as a serious error of judgment and ruled out giving the Greens or Te Pāti Māori police and corrections portfolios in a future government.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson defended the visit, saying her party would continue engaging with gang members.
The controversy deepened on Thursday when footage emerged of Labour’s Tāmaki Makaurau candidate Kerrin Leoni appearing to campaign alongside Mongrel Mob members.
The video showed Leoni wearing Labour-branded clothing, holding campaign material and encouraging people to vote.
Leoni maintained she had attended a whānau gathering where some relatives were gang members, rather than visiting a gang pad.
However, she resigned as Labour’s candidate on Friday after Hipkins said the footage was inconsistent with the standards he expected.
Her name will remain on ballot papers because nominations have closed.
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