Labour Candidate Kerrin Leoni Resigns After Campaigning With Gangs
Kerrin Leoni resigned as Labour's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate after video emerged of her encouraging Mongrel Mob gang members to enroll to vote.
Labour Party candidate Kerrin Leoni resigned from her candidacy for the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate on October 23, 2026, after video footage emerged showing her campaigning alongside members of the Mongrel Mob gang. The footage and accompanying photos depicted Leoni wearing a party-branded jacket and encouraging attendees to enroll to vote to change the government.
Leoni defended her actions, stating the gathering was a whānau function attended by both gang and non-gang members. She asserted she would not turn her back on her relatives regardless of their associations and claimed her resignation was intended to prevent the controversy from aiding the National Party. Because nominations had already closed, Leoni's name will remain on the ballot, though she no longer represents the party.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins accepted the resignation, stating that campaigning alongside gangs is unacceptable and a violation of party standards. He described the incident as a display of very bad judgement and noted that Leoni's position had become untenable. The incident follows previous tensions where Hipkins had condemned candidates from the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori for visiting gang pads.
Opposition leaders condemned the event, with National Party justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith calling it an appalling look and Act leader David Seymour claiming it demonstrated Labour's failure to control violent crime. Conversely, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi described the resignation as a sad day for Māori.
