5 Oct 2023

ACT rejects suggestions they are engaging in anti-Māori rhetoric

From Midday Report, 12:13 pm on 5 October 2023

The ACT and National parties are rejecting any suggestion they have engaged in anti-Māori rhetoric or race-baiting, with many parties experiencing an increase in aggressive behaviour towards their candidates this election.

Te Pāti Māori is blaming National and ACT for the behaviour shown towards its members, with a man being trespassed from the home of their Hauraki-Waikato candidate, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke on Wednesday.

The party's president, John Tamihere, has described the perpetrator as "an elderly Pākehā man", who is a well-known campaigner for the National Party.

ACT's leader David Seymour spoke to Charlotte Cook.