Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he had spoken to Potaka and confirmed the photograph was taken at a K\u012bngitanga event three years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn\u2019t campaigning, he wasn\u2019t engaging gang members to ask them to get organised to vote for the National Party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luxon said he had not spoken to Potaka about the photograph but rejected suggestions it undermined National\u2019s stance on gangs.<\/p>\n
Christopher Luxon defended National MP Tama Potaka after a photograph emerged of him posing with patched gang members. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a photo with a gang member at a big event… he\u2019s not raising funds for the Mongrel Mob.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mitchell said there was a clear distinction between being approached by gang members at a public event and deliberately attending a gang fundraiser.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had gang members approach me at public events. I\u2019ve been very clear with them and suggested to them they might want to leave the gang.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said he had also offered support to gang members wanting to leave, particularly those with families.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a big difference between that and fronting up to a gang fundraiser.\u201d<\/p>\n
National MP Tama Potaka was photographed alongside patched Mongrel Mob members at a K\u012bngitanga event three years ago<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t read anything into that other than the fact that they were trying to take a photo opportunity with him in the K\u012bngitanga and he was trying to be respectful and not create a scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
Challenged over National\u2019s previous criticism of politicians being photographed with gang members, Mitchell rejected the comparison.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re conflating two issues here, and I hope you\u2019re not doing it intentionally.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said politicians were photographed with thousands of people at public events and could not be expected to know everyone\u2019s background.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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\u2019s very well known for violence and for peddling meth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hipkins, speaking to media in Wellington, said Luxon had made associating with gangs a \u201chuge issue\u201d in the campaign. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe now needs to answer why he thinks National MPs should be held to a different standard, to the standard he demands of others.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about Luxon\u2019s claim Labour wasn\u2019t consisent in its position on gang association, Hipkins said: \u201cI\u2019m astounded to have those claims from Christopher Luxon today, if anyone is exhibiting they have a massive double standard, it\u2019s Christopher Luxon.\u201d<\/p>\n
He rejected the suggestion Leoni\u2019s resignation had tanked his campaign. <\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely not, the National Party can explain their own hypocrisy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The controversy follows a turbulent week for Labour, the Greens and Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori after politicians and candidates were photographed alongside patched Mongrel Mob members.<\/p>\n
Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori MPs Oriini Kaipara and Hana-R\u0101whiti Maipi-Clarke, alongside Green MP H\u016bhana Lyndon and candidate Michel Mulipola, attended a Mongrel Mob gathering described as a wh\u0101nau, health and wellbeing election hui.<\/p>\n
Photographs of the politicians posing with gang members, including Mongrel Mob life member Harry Tam, sparked criticism from National.<\/p>\n
Labour leader Chris Hipkins described the visit as a serious error of judgment <\/a>and ruled out giving the Greens or Te P\u0101ti M\u0101ori police and corrections portfolios in a future government.<\/p>\n Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson defended the visit, saying her party would continue engaging with gang members.<\/p>\n The controversy deepened on Thursday when footage emerged of Labour\u2019s T\u0101maki Makaurau candidate Kerrin Leoni appearing to campaign alongside Mongrel Mob members.<\/p>\n The video showed Leoni wearing Labour-branded clothing, holding campaign material and encouraging people to vote.<\/p>\n Leoni maintained she had attended a wh\u0101nau gathering where some relatives were gang members, rather than visiting a gang pad.<\/p>\n