From NZ Herald · · 2m
Election 2026 Campaign Diary: Mongrel Mob Photo Furore Damages Left
Green Party and Te Pāti Māori candidates face backlash for posing with Mongrel Mob in election campaign.
In brief
Green Party and Te Pāti Māori candidates face backlash for posing with Mongrel Mob in election campaign. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and Te Pāti Māori candidates criticized for photos with Mongrel Mob harm left-wing electoral chances in New Zealand election 2026. Originally reported by NZ Herald.
Mongrel Mob Photo Furore
Green Party and Te Pāti Māori candidates face backlash for posing with Mongrel Mob at election hui.
“It is not just the bad judgment of Green Party and Te Pāti Māori candidates posing in celebratory style with patched gang members at a Mob health and wellbeing election hui”
Marama Davidson's Response
Marama Davidson validates and exacerbates issue by resurrecting possibility of gang grants for drug addiction programs.
“Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson both validating and exacerbating the issue in follow-up stories by resurrecting the possibility of grants to gangs for drug addiction programmes”
Chris Hipkins' Position
Chris Hipkins rules out Greens and Te Pāti Māori from police and Corrections portfolios during leaders' debate.
“He had no option but to rule them out, although they were never in contention for them in the first place”
Te Tai Tokerau Impact
Green MP Hūhana Lyndon gains potential rally effect from Mongrel Mob photo controversy.
“Te Tai Tokerau candidates: Te Tai Tokerau Party Mariameno Kapa-Kingi (from left), Hūhana Lyndon (Greens), Willow-Jean Prime (Labour) and Aperahama Edwards (Te Pāti Māori)”
Pay Equity Misconception
Christopher Luxon compares librarians to fisheries officers in pay equity debates, a misrepresentation of the scheme.
“The reason it is irritating is because that is not an aberration of the pay equity scheme. It is the very essence of it”
Pay Equity Details
Pay equity scheme compares skill, responsibility, effort and conditions across 14 factors including problem-solving and emotional effort.
“You can make useful comparisons by comparing the same components in different jobs”
Election Timeline
Friday: Chris Hipkins in Gisborne, Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson in Auckland; Shane Jones in Balclutha.
“Friday: Chris Hipkins will be in Gisborne, Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson will be in Auckland; Shane Jones has a public meeting in Balclutha, 6pm”
Saturday Events
Saturday: David Seymour in Ōrewa, Warkworth and Wellsford; Winston Peters in Botany.
“Saturday: David Seymour will be in Ōrewa, Warkworth and Wellsford; Winston Peters has a public meeting in Botany, 2pm”
Mongrel Mob Photo Controversy
Mongrel Mob photos damage centre-left’s chances of forming next government.
“The damage that the Mongrel Mob photos might have on the centre left’s chances of forming the next Government is becoming apparent as the story rolls on and will likely do so for several more days”
Mongrel Mob Health Hui
Mongrel Mob health and wellbeing hui held during election campaign.
“It is not just the bad judgment of Green Party and Te Pāti Māori candidates posing in celebratory style with patched gang members at a Mob health and wellbeing election hui”
Marama Davidson's Role
Marama Davidson, Green Party co-leader, discusses candidates posing with Mongrel Mob.
“Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson (left) talks about candidates posing with the Mongrel Mob”
Te Tai Tokerau Election
Te Tai Tokerau election seat contested by Green MP Hūhana Lyndon, Labour MP Willow-Jean Prime and Te Pāti Māori candidate Aperahama Edwards.
“Te Tai Tokerau candidates: Te Tai Tokerau Party Mariameno Kapa-Kingi (from left), Hūhana Lyndon (Greens), Willow-Jean Prime (Labour) and Aperahama Edwards (Te Pāti Māori)”
Pay Equity Scheme
Pay equity scheme compares 14 factors including problem-solving and emotional effort across occupations.
“You can make useful comparisons by comparing the same components in different jobs”
Mongrel Mob Photo Impact
Mongrel Mob photos create division on left between Labour and potential coalition partners.
“It opens up division on the left between Labour and its potential coalition partners over a problem that was completely avoidable”
Mongrel Mob Social Media
Mongrel Mob photos plastered over social media during election campaign.
“Having your photo plastered over the Mob’s social media surely isn’t one of them”
Election 2026 Timeline
Election 2026 campaign with 3 weeks remaining as of October 15, 2026.
“Welcome to the latest edition of the daily Campaign Diary, with just over three weeks to go until the election”
The headline
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and Te Pāti Māori candidates criticized for photos with Mongrel Mob harm left-wing electoral chances in New Zealand election 2026.
