Frustrated Green co-leaders bat away questions on Mongrel Mob visit

The Green Party co-leaders are seeking to move on from the party’s controversial visit with the Mongrel Mob alongside Te Pāti Māori, as the pair appear irritated by continued questions from the media. 

It comes as Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he’s told the Greens it was a “huge error of judgment”, having already ruled out giving the police or corrections portfolios to the Greens or Te Pāti Māori in a future coalition. 

He is also committing to no funding being given to gang-led programmes after Green co-leader Marama Davidson yesterday said she was open to supporting services like the Mongrel Mob-led meth rehabilitation programme funded in 2021; Hipkins saying such a move would be “like asking the arsonists to put out the fire”. 

This week, photos published to social media showed Mongrel Mob members meeting with Green MP Hūhana Lyndon and candidate Michel Mulipola, as well as Te Pāti Māori MPs Oriini Kaipara and Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke. 

The Green Party has said Lyndon was there in her capacity as health spokeswoman “on the basis that those who are in gangs also need access to healthcare”. 

Amid volleys of criticism from political opponents, Davidson insisted she was proud of her party’s advocacy for marginalised communities, while co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick wanted to understand the context behind the visit. 

Hipkins has criticised his potential coalition partners for the visit, saying it was ill-judged and deciding, if elected, the police and corrections portfolios would not be held by the Greens or Te Pāti Māori as a result. 

Speaking to media in Auckland after announcing policy proposing a weekly payment for health and education students, Davidson acknowledged she had spoken to Hipkins yesterday about the matter but shed little light on what was discussed. 

“We clarified and affirmed that our focus is getting rid of this anti-worker and anti-student Government, bringing down the cost of living, and those are our focuses. 

“We talk all the time and I don’t need to share all the details of our call.” 

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick spoke to media in Auckland. Photo / Michael Craig 

She conceded it was not a “priority issue” but wouldn’t be drawn on whether she regretted it. 

“What I know people prefer is that and what we’re hearing on the phones and on the streets is that we stay committed [to] getting rid of this Government.” 

Swarbrick acknowledged, “It is what it is”, and said they had spoken to MPs about retaining focus on “reducing the cost of living, climate-changing emissions, and bringing people together”. 

Neither Davidson nor Swarbrick would answer whether an apology had been offered by Lyndon or whether they had made one to Hipkins during Davidson’s phone call. 

The pair appeared frustrated at the continued questions, which culminated in Davidson saying to one journalist, “Are you okay?”, after he had asked whether the Green Party would ever meet with Mexican cartels. 

Speaking to media in Gisborne, Hipkins described the visit as a “huge error of judgment”, which he had reiterated during yesterday’s call. 

“I think politicians need to be very careful that they’re not seen to be endorsing gang activity, validating gangs in any way. Politicians shouldn’t be visiting gang pads and taking selfies.” 

Yesterday, Davidson said she was open to devoting public money towards addiction rehabilitation services run by gangs, similar to what was started in 2021. 

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has been highly critical of the visit. Photo / Sylvie Whinray 

Hipkins said there would be no funding given to programmes with gang links under a government he led. 

“We will continue to support meth rehabilitation programmes, but not ones that are run by gangs. That would be like asking the arsonists to put out the fire. 

“Gangs peddle drugs. They cause enormous harm. They shouldn’t be getting funding to clean up the mess that they are active in making.” 

In a statement shortly after the Green Party press conference, National justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith highlighted how the co-leaders hadn’t acknowledged anything was wrong with the visit. 

“Looks like Hipkins’ phone call was utterly meaningless. Clearly they don’t take him seriously, even before forming a government. Imagine the Cabinet meetings.” 

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.