Green Party co-leaders

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick spoke to media in Auckland after announcing a policy for weekly payments to health and education students.

Mongrel Mob meeting

Photos 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.

Labour leader's criticism

Labour leader Chris Hipkins called the Green Party’s visit with Mongrel Mob a 'huge error of judgment' and ruled out giving police or corrections portfolios to the Greens or Te Pāti Māori in a future…

Mongrel Mob rehab program

Green co-leader Marama Davidson said she was open to supporting meth rehabilitation services run by Mongrel Mob, similar to a program funded in 2021.

Hipkins' stance

Hipkins said there would be no funding for gang-led programs under a government he leads, comparing it to 'asking the arsonists to put out the fire'.

Green Party response

Green Party co-leaders said their focus is getting rid of the current anti-worker and anti-student government and bringing down the cost of living.

Frustrated media questions

Green co-leaders appeared frustrated by continued media questions, with Davidson saying to a journalist, 'Are you okay?' after he asked if the party would meet with Mexican cartels.

“Are you okay?”

National's reaction

National justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith said the co-leaders hadn’t acknowledged anything was wrong with the visit, calling Hipkins’ phone call 'utterly meaningless'.

Green Party's stance

The Greens said Lyndon was there as health spokeswoman 'on the basis that those who are in gangs also need access to healthcare'.

Hipkins' commitment

Hipkins committed to no funding for gang-led programmes after Green co-leader Davidson said she was open to supporting meth rehabilitation services run by Mongrel Mob.

Swarbrick's comment

Swarbrick acknowledged it was '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.

Davidson's comment

Davidson said it was not a 'priority issue' but wouldn’t answer whether she regretted the visit or if an apology had been offered.

Hipkins' criticism

Hipkins described the visit as a 'huge error of judgment' and said politicians shouldn’t be visiting gang pads and taking selfies.

Mongrel Mob rehab program

Mongrel Mob ran a meth rehabilitation program funded in 2021, which Davidson said she was open to supporting with public money.

Hipkins' comparison

Hipkins compared funding gang-led programs to 'asking the arsonists to put out the fire', saying gangs peddle drugs and cause enormous harm.

Green Party's focus

The Greens said their focus is getting rid of the current government and bringing down the cost of living, not apologizing for the Mongrel Mob meeting.