Yesterday's talkback outrage was all about the MPs and the gangs.  

A meeting that was condemned by both the Chrises in the Leaders debate.  

But despite this weight of opinion, Marama Davidson doubled down on the visit – and then she promised more funding for gang run social programmes. 

Well, I don't think Marama quite understands the issue. 

I actually don't mind MPs talking with criminals to better understand where they're at, and I don't mind them talking with gangs.   

There are 11,000 gang members now, with tens of thousands of related whanau, many of whom need intervention by the State.   

Whether it's support for single mothers, or rescuing of children from abusive homes, or housing. It's good to see these issues first hand with your own eyes.  

However, the real problem was the social media posting of the photos.  

They legitimised the gangs and even celebrated their existence to the wider public.  

To not see that was silly and naive of Marama, particularly in a week where the Greens are polling better than ever.  

The fact that it was done so close to the election means it's been weaponised and once again, it casts doubts around the Greens being equipped to have their hand on the tiller of this country.  

And it's interesting that Chlöe Swarbrick has been silent.   

When asked if the event was acceptable, Ms Swarbrick did not give a definitive yes or no. Instead, she stated that she needed to “understand more of the context as to what has played out here". 

She's learnt a lot over the years and knows better.   

Unlike Marama Davidson. The reason the right attack Ms Swarbrick and not Marama is that they know one is a threat and the other is an irrelevancy.   

You get the feeling that the co-leadership thing is a thing of the past. 

Yesterday's talkback outrage was all about the MPs and the gangs. &nbsp;
A meeting that was condemned by both the Chrises in the Leaders debate. &nbsp;
But despite this weight of opinion, Marama Davidson doubled down on the visit – and then she promised more funding for gang run social programmes.&nbsp;
Well, I don't think Marama quite understands the issue.&nbsp;
I actually don't mind MPs talking with criminals to better understand where they're at, and I don't mind them talking with gangs. &nbsp;&nbsp;
There are 11,000 gang members now, with tens of thousands of related whanau, many of whom need intervention by the State. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether it's support for single mothers, or rescuing of children from abusive homes, or housing. It's good to see these issues first hand with your own eyes. &nbsp;
However, the real problem was the social media posting of the photos. &nbsp;
They legitimised the gangs and even celebrated their existence to the wider public. &nbsp;
To not see that was silly and naive of Marama, particularly in a week where the Greens are polling better than ever. &nbsp;
The fact that it was done so close to the election means it's been weaponised and once again, it casts doubts around the Greens being equipped to have their hand on the tiller of this country. &nbsp;
And it's interesting that Chlöe Swarbrick has been silent. &nbsp;&nbsp;
When asked if the event was acceptable, Ms Swarbrick did not give a definitive yes or no. Instead, she stated that she needed to “understand more of the context as to what has played out here".&nbsp;
She's learnt a lot over the years and knows better. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Unlike Marama Davidson. The reason the right attack Ms Swarbrick and not Marama is that they know one is a threat and the other is an irrelevancy. &nbsp;&nbsp;
You get the feeling that the co-leadership thing is a thing of the past.&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Andrew Dickens: Is the Greens' co-leadership a thing of the past?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f57ab036-eb8d-4633-8145-b4e4011a13c3/transcript