Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he wasn't told the full truth about the gathering that led to Kerrin Leoni's resignation as Tāmaki Makaurau candidate. 

At a debate this week, Te Pati Māori's Oriini Kaipara accused Leoni of visiting a gang pad a week before she did - which Leoni denied. 

Footage surfaced yesterday of her campaigning this month at a family event including gang members, wearing a Labour Party jacket. 

Hipkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Labour didn't know the extent of the event. 

He says it was working off the information she provided - that she had not visited a gang pad, and hadn't done what was alleged in the debate. 

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Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he wasn't told the full truth about the gathering that led to Kerrin Leoni's resignation as Tāmaki Makaurau candidate.&nbsp;
At a debate this week, Te Pati Māori's Oriini Kaipara accused Leoni of visiting a gang pad a week before she did - which Leoni denied.&nbsp;
Footage surfaced yesterday of her campaigning this month at a family event including gang members, wearing a Labour Party jacket.&nbsp;
Hipkins told Heather du Plessis-Allan that Labour didn't know the extent of the event.&nbsp;
He says it was working off the information she provided - that she had not visited a gang pad, and hadn't done what was alleged in the debate.&nbsp;
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

Chris Hipkins: Labour Party Leader responds to resignation of Kerrin Leoni

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2d23a937-f376-4d81-80f3-b4ec0047d585/transcript

Oh, I tell you what, I cannot see Chris Hipkins winning the election now.

I mean, if you thought that Mongrel Mob fiasco was bad before, it's got so much worse for Labour. Their candidate has quit and Chris Hipkins himself now looks like he's been fibbing to the public.

It turns out, now that we've seen the video of Kerrin Leoni at the Mongrel Mob event, that it wasn't at all the family gathering Labour told us it was. She was there in her red Labour jacket with a placard featuring a picture of herself and Chippy, telling gang members to enrol and change the government.

That doesn't look like a family barbecue, does it? I don't know how many family barbecues you turn up to wearing your work jacket.

I also don't know how many voters are going to believe Hipkins when he says he didn't know about it and that Leoni misled him. Anyone paying attention would have seen Labour doing a fair bit of misleading themselves.

When Leoni was first accused of meeting the Mongrel Mob the week before the Green and Māori parties had, Labour said it wasn't true. They said she hadn't met the gang the week before. But she had. It was nine days before, not seven, and that looks very much like Labour playing silly buggers with the timeline so we'd never know the event had happened.

If they were prepared to mislead us on that, do you really believe they didn't try to mislead us when they said, "Hey, it's just a family event," when it was actually a political event?

This is devastating for Labour because it's no longer just about whether you share Labour's values or what you think about criminals and gang members. It's now also about the integrity of the party leader and whether he and the party tried to hide this from voters.

My suspicion is that, yes, they very much did.

And that, with only two weeks until election day, is, in my view, unsurvivable for Labour short of a miracle.

LISTEN ABOVE

Oh, I tell you what, I cannot see Chris Hipkins winning the election now.
I mean, if you thought that Mongrel Mob fiasco was bad before, it's got so much worse for Labour. Their candidate has quit and Chris Hipkins himself now looks like he's been fibbing to the public.
It turns out, now that we've seen the video of Kerrin Leoni at the Mongrel Mob event, that it wasn't at all the family gathering Labour told us it was. She was there in her red Labour jacket with a placard featuring a picture of herself and Chippy, telling gang members to enrol and change the government.
That doesn't look like a family barbecue, does it? I don't know how many family barbecues you turn up to wearing your work jacket.
I also don't know how many voters are going to believe Hipkins when he says he didn't know about it and that Leoni misled him. Anyone paying attention would have seen Labour doing a fair bit of misleading themselves.
When Leoni was first accused of meeting the Mongrel Mob the week before the Green and Māori parties had, Labour said it wasn't true. They said she hadn't met the gang the week before. But she had. It was nine days before, not seven, and that looks very much like Labour playing silly buggers with the timeline so we'd never know the event had happened.
If they were prepared to mislead us on that, do you really believe they didn't try to mislead us when they said, "Hey, it's just a family event," when it was actually a political event?
This is devastating for Labour because it's no longer just about whether you share Labour's values or what you think about criminals and gang members. It's now also about the integrity of the party leader and whether he and the party tried to hide this from voters.
My suspicion is that, yes, they very much did.
And that, with only two weeks until election day, is, in my view, unsurvivable for Labour short of a miracle.
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: I cannot see Chris Hipkins winning the election

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/37970d7e-f0b7-46b3-85c4-b4ec006237b9/transcript

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper sits down with Heather du Plessis-Allan to review the week in politics. 

Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni has cut ties with the party after a video circulated of her campaigning with the Mongrel Mob. 

The debates are wrapped up, Barry picks his winners...and losers. 

And the founder of the Opportunity Party says the party is leaning too far to the left!

LISTEN ABOVE

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper sits down with Heather du Plessis-Allan to review the week in politics.&nbsp;
Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni has cut ties with the party after a video circulated of her campaigning with the Mongrel Mob.&nbsp;
The debates are wrapped up, Barry picks his winners...and losers.&nbsp;
And the founder of the Opportunity Party says the party is leaning too far to the left!
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Senior Political Correspondent wraps the week in politics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bda24518-ff35-448e-8fe8-b4ec00609d73/transcript

Tonight on The Huddle, NZ Herald Sports Journalist Nathan Limm and Sports Commentator Lavina Good join Heather du Plessis-Allan to the review this weeks' sports. 

The Northland Taniwha have soldiered to the NPC final, can they defeat heavyweights Canterbury and take the trophy home?

The Constellation Cup continues over the ditch, can the Silver Ferns maintain momentum? And why was Grace Nweke subbed off moments before breaking a historic record? 

And the new PNG Chiefs have revealed their logo, Heather gets our guests thoughts. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Tonight on The Huddle, NZ Herald Sports Journalist Nathan Limm and Sports Commentator Lavina Good join Heather du Plessis-Allan to the review this weeks' sports.&nbsp;
The Northland Taniwha have soldiered to the NPC final, can they defeat heavyweights Canterbury and take the trophy home?
The Constellation Cup continues over the ditch, can the Silver Ferns maintain momentum? And why was Grace Nweke subbed off moments before breaking a historic record?&nbsp;
And the new PNG Chiefs have revealed their logo, Heather gets our guests thoughts.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

The Huddle: Can the Northland Taniwha win the NPC?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bb1d6c2e-c655-4336-8d0d-b4ec005689d7/transcript

Chris Hipkins: Labour Party Leader responds to resignation of Kerrin Leoni

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