Mongrel Mob visit poor optics with historic precedence

A Mongrel Mob meeting with Green Party M.P.’s has caused a storm of controversy.

History records that this is not the first time politicians have sat down with gangs. The late former Prime Minister Robert Muldoon is well known for having met with the Mongrel Mob. He did so with his wife, Thea.

Mongrel Mob meeting fall out

However, the optics – as various politicians noted – are not great and the timing was poor. Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins said he would not offer any justice related portfolios should Labour win the election. That though is not surprising, as the major parties are known for keeping the big portfolios to themselves.

Mr Hipkins was in office when a senior Mongrel Mob member was awarded a substantial contract. Cabinet agreed to fund a $2.75 million programme run by Harry Tam. The then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was one of the Cabinet Ministers who authorized the contract funding.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was right to note the inappropriate nature of the meeting. However, Mr Luxon might want to look at National’s history. During Mr Muldoons tenure National was behind controversial raids by authorities on Pasifika communities. This caused lasting pain among Pasifika people, that was only acknowledged when Ms Ardern was in office.

A.C.T. Party Deputy Leader Nicole Mckee also criticized the visit. Ms Mckee said that she “waits for the day” when the Green Party and Te Pati Maori meet with victims of gang violence.

Opportunity Party Leader Qiulae Wong also thought that the visit was not appropriate for an election campaign. Ms Wong suggested that the M.P.’s should have visited victims or frontline social services instead.

My own position is semi-conciliatory. Mr Muldoon had the right idea, and to his credit he did not meet the Mongrel Mob during an election campaign. If Members of Parliament meet gang members in the future, conditions should be attached. They might include meeting at a neutral venue, and removing insignia on demand.

Consequences?

It has been noted that Labour will not offer the Greens or Te Pati Maori any justice related roles.

But will this have an impact on the campaigns of the two parties?

Te Pati Maori has run an extremely low profile campaign with only 8 candidates across the entire country, which has resulted in little conversation about what they might offer. In their case, I cannot see them being around the Cabinet table even if this had not happened.

As for the Greens, this confirms an ongoing immaturity problem that many potentially sympathetic voters have noted. It happens every time that the party looks like it is gaining critical traction. One or more of its M.P.’s does something that threatens to upend the entire campaign. It does not look like this particular campaign will crash because of Ms Kaipara and Ms Lyndon’s actions, but the voters have not yet spoken.

And that is what counts.