Candidates from Te Pāti Māori and the Greens were recently spotted meeting with the Mongrel Mob on social media, and it's prompted some backlash.

Chris Hipkins and Labour have since ruled out any MP from those parties holding the Justice or Police portfolios.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has labelled this as 'absurd' and that Luxon should have drawn more attention to this issue in last night's debate.

LISTEN ABOVE

Candidates from Te Pāti Māori and the Greens were recently spotted meeting with the Mongrel Mob on social media, and it's prompted some backlash.
Chris Hipkins and Labour have since ruled out any MP from those parties holding the Justice or Police portfolios.
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has labelled this as 'absurd' and that Luxon should have drawn more attention to this issue in last night's debate.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on the Green and Te Pāti Māori candidates meeting with the Mongrel Mob

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2d19bb07-8f72-48ad-8465-b4e4004f7c2a/transcript