# National Party candidate Karuna Muthu storms out of Wellington Bays debate > National Party candidate Karuna Muthu leaves Wellington Bays debate after accusing organizers of biased questions. - Title: National Party candidate Karuna Muthu storms out of… - Summary: National Party candidate Karuna Muthu leaves Wellington Bays debate after accusing organizers of biased questions. National Party candidate Karuna Muthu… - Keywords: karuna muthu, national party, wellington bays, election 2026, wellington, candidates meeting, political debate, democratic debate, left wing questions, political neutrality, politics, news - Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2026-national-party-candidate-karuna-muthu-storms-out-of-wellington-bays-candidates-meeting/2BPUSTZ5JVHFJL33BZ2AH6YNUY - Read time: 2 min - Topics: karuna muthu, national party, wellington bays, election 2026, wellington, candidates meeting, political debate, democratic debate, left wing questions, political neutrality, politics, news ## National Party candidate Karuna Muthu National Party candidate Karuna Muthu stormed out of a Wellington Bays candidates meeting after accusing organizers of asking 'loaded' left-wing questions. > I would like to leave with respect ## Accused of biased questions Muthu claimed the event lacked neutrality required for a democratic debate and was 'loaded towards the left' with 10 questions. > You can boo me, but so far, all the questions, about 10 of them, all loaded and towards [the] left ... it’s not balanced ## Clash with audience member Muthu clashed with an audience member on his way out, calling her 'rude' and stating the event was undemocratic. > That is rude ## Moderator's response The moderator said the event 'lacked the neutrality essential for a functional democratic debate' before Muthu walked out. > I am expressing my democratic right as a candidate ## Muthu's explanation Muthu posted on Facebook explaining he walked out to maintain integrity and avoid a staged event that precludes genuine multiparty analysis. > Integrity is the cornerstone of representation ## National Party statement The National Party issued a statement saying Muthu attended the meeting in good faith but was disappointed the questions didn't focus on issues mattering to Wellington Bays voters. > I have attended more than 20 community meetings so far this election ## Labour candidate response Labour's Craig Renney said the job of being a local MP is answering tough questions from the electorate, regardless of difficulty. > The questions that were being asked were clearly questions affecting residents in Brooklyn ## Green Party incumbent Green Party incumbent Julie Anne Genter called Muthu's walkout 'a shame' despite the meeting being positive and respectful overall. > It was a really good meeting and for the most part the Wellington Bays campaign has actually been really positive and respectful ## Brooklyn's political landscape Wellington's Brooklyn is historically left-leaning with high Green Party support, showing 30.3% in 2023 elections. > Green Party received the largest share at 30.3% in 2023 ## Muthu's campaign history Muthu has run for National in the same seat since 2008, previously named Rongotai, and is currently placed 64th on the National Party list. > He ran for National in the same seat in 2023 and in 2008 for United Future ## Current polling position Polling shows Muthu in third place with Labour's Craig Renney and Green Party's Julie Anne Genter tied. > Polling has him in third place, with Genter and Renney tied ## Muthu's stance on democracy Muthu stated that leadership requires the resolve to identify when a process has lost its provenance and integrity is the cornerstone of representation. > Leadership requires the resolve to identify when a process has lost its provenance ## Event location The incident occurred at the Brooklyn Community Centre in Wellington, a historically left-leaning suburb. > Wellington's hillside suburb of Brooklyn is historically left-leaning ## Muthu's exit Muthu walked out of the meeting, followed by his campaign team, after stating the event was undemocratic and lacked neutrality. > I am not ready to accept this ## Muthu's final statement Muthu declared the event 'undemocratic' and would not participate in a forum where moderation was as imbalanced as the rhetoric. > I will not participate in a forum where the moderation is as imbalanced as the rhetoric ## Key takeaway National Party candidate Karuna Muthu walked out of a Wellington Bays candidates meeting, claiming the event lacked neutrality and was loaded with left-wing questions.