Full Breakdown
Te Pati Maori MP Oriini Kaipara Promises to Restore Mana to Mongrel Mob, Sparking Political Fallout
By Drooid · · How we work
Event Overview
During a visit to a Mongrel Mob gang pad in Auckland, Te Pati Maori MP Oriini Kaipara said her party would work to restore the “mana” of gang members. The remarks were captured in a short video that circulated online, showing Kaipara addressing the assembled members and invoking Maori ancestry. The visit also included Green Party MP Huhana Lyndon, Green candidate Michel Mulipola and Te Pati Maori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke.
Political Reactions
National Party justice spokesman Paul Goldsmith called the meeting “outrageous” and argued that gangs “peddle misery and havoc” and should have no influence over law-and-order policy. Labour leader Chris Hipkins responded that his party would not support any rights for gangs, would not amend the existing ban on gang patches, and ruled out any ministerial roles for Te Pati Maori or the Greens if they entered government. Labour framed gangs as a “scourge on society” responsible for drug trafficking and violence.
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick declined to say whether she would have advised MP Lyndon against meeting the gang members, while Green co-leader Marama Davidson reiterated that she remains “unapologetic” for engaging with marginalised communities, citing previous outreach in 2021.
Act Party deputy leader Nicole McKee asked what Te Pati Maori proposes for Maori victims of crime, referencing the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey, which found 33 % of Maori adults experienced at least one criminal offence in 2025 compared with 28 % of the overall population.
Context of the Gang Policy Debate
The controversy occurs amid ongoing debate over the government’s ban on gang patches and broader concerns about gang-related violence. Critics argue that granting additional rights to gangs could undermine recent efforts to curb gang influence, while supporters claim that Maori communities affected by gang activity deserve culturally appropriate support.
Impact on Maori Victims of Crime
Maori advocacy groups have highlighted the disproportionate exposure of Maori to crime, as reflected in the survey figures cited by McKee. The discussion of “restoring mana” raises questions about how policy changes might address the underlying socioeconomic factors that contribute to both victimisation and gang involvement.
Future Political Implications
Both Labour and National have signalled that any coalition involving Te Pati Maori or the Greens would exclude them from major ministerial portfolios. The debate is likely to influence voter perceptions ahead of the upcoming election, with parties positioning themselves either for stricter gang controls or for broader community-focused interventions.