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

> Green Party co-leaders avoid explaining controversial Mongrel Mob meeting with politicians.
- Title: Green co-leaders bat away questions on Mongrel Mob visit
- Summary: Green Party co-leaders avoid explaining controversial Mongrel Mob meeting with politicians. Green Party co-leaders say they focus on removing the current…
- Keywords: green party, mongrel mob, chloe swarbrick, marama davidson, chris hipkins, te pāti māori, politics, new zealand, news, Green, co-leaders, bat
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/frustrated-green-co-leaders-bat-away-questions-on-mongrel-mob-visit/YATSJ2V4LZD6TEYZSFX76QF4QE
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: green party, mongrel mob, chloe swarbrick, marama davidson, chris hipkins, te pāti māori, politics, new zealand, news
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Green Party co-leaders say they focus on removing the current government and cutting costs, not apologizing for meeting with Mongrel Mob members.