'That's racist bulls***': Act candidate heckled over Te Tiriti stance at Akl central debate

Act Party candidate Antonia Modkova faced repeated heckling over her answers at an Auckland Central candidates’ debate on Karangahape Rd, including during a heated exchange over Te Tiriti o Waitangi which an audience member claimed was “racist bulls***”.

St Kevin’s Arcade basement venue Double Whammy had turned down the tunes for just over an hour last night to fill its stage with politicians for an animated debate on issues affecting the precinct and wider central city.

When an audience member asked candidates how their parties planned to honour Te Tiriti, Labour’s Naisi Chen said her party backed restoring it to the school curriculum and retaining the Waitangi Tribunal, which both Act and New Zealand First have proposed to abolish.

Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick, also the electorate’s incumbent MP, criticised the Westminster parliamentary system’s perceived ineffectiveness and instead called for “constitutional transformation” with Te Tiriti at its centre.

Modkova said Act was proud of how New Zealand “has redressed the wrongs of the past” through land settlements, but opposed continuing forward “with two sets of people having two sets of rights, based on when their ancestors arrived”.

“That’s racist bulls***,” an audience member shouted in response.

Green Party co-leader Chloe Swarbrick and Act candidate Antonia Modkova at St Kevin’s Arcade basement venue Double Whammy for the Auckland Central debate. Photo / Alyse Wright

Swarbrick then jested: “Act Party said land back!”

Opportunity candidate Johan Chang said, in his view, New Zealand was technically in a legally “binding, contractual agreement” between the Crown and Māori under Te Tiriti, and that constitutional reform needed both parties at the table.

“We pretend that we’re an independent country, but technically, by definition, we’re all British subjects,” he said.

“If we are to do, let’s say constitutional reform, it should not be a government-led exercise, because if it’s led by a party that got in at 8%, I think that’s pretty much the definition of authoritarianism.”

Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party candidate Christopher Manaia eased the tension with some humour before echoing the need for a two-party negotiation and supporting Māori self-governance.

The spat was the sharpest moment in a night otherwise heavily focused on the immediate problems facing central Auckland, including homelessness, housing and the survival of small businesses following years of disruption from the City Rail Link (CRL).

Modkova agreed with Labour that Auckland needs more homes, but not on “how we’re going to get there”, pointing to consenting and the recent Resource Management Act reform as key to increasing supply.

“Developers don’t want to build low-cost housing,” another audience member interjected.

“It’s not profitable.”

Swarbrick believed emergency housing was necessary but not sufficient, saying the state dually needed to build a pipeline of transitional and permanent housing.

There was more agreement on the need for a night shelter in central Auckland, with all five candidates backing one’s establishment.

All five also supported having more police on the beat.

The debate then turned to the future of K Rd’s small businesses, with one person asking how each party aimed to “raise the profile of all businesses rather than just the glamorous ones”.

Swarbrick pointed to the CRL hardship fund and the Greens’ proposal to change commercial rental rules and fill vacant storefronts, adding current tenants need an economy that allows them to “prosper and become more vibrant”.

Modkova focused on reducing regulatory barriers, while Chen proposed measures like lifting rebate thresholds and ensuring greater access to government procurement for small businesses.

Chang focused on reducing electricity costs, improving financial capability and addressing merchant surcharges, which he said couldn’t just fall back onto businesses themselves if banned.

Notably, National candidate Candace Kinser was absent from the debate, with a statement read on her behalf saying she was visiting Aotea Great Barrier for a prior commitment.

New Zealand First has not announced a candidate for Auckland Central, while Te Pāti Māori is pursuing a strategic “candidate vote only” campaign to take back all seven Māori seats.