ACT leader David Seymour campaigning on Monday in Lower Hutt. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
ACT leader David Seymour says a social media post from one of his candidates was a "very stupid thing to do."
Tim Newman, the party's Dunedin candidate, liked a comment on LinkedIn.
The post - which was in response to a statement posted by Seymour, and said "extremist Maori might be getting expelled to the Moa Strip if they gunna keep targeting New Zealand citizens".
Newman also commented on the post, saying it was "hilarious".
Newman, who is ranked 53rd on ACT's list, is the latest ACT candidate to face criticism for social media use.
Seymour says Newman has apologised, and has deleted the post.
ACT has already had to defend its vetting process for candiates.
Five candidates have so far resigned from the party.
The party's Rangitata candidate Elaine Naidu-Franz resigned after online comments by her likening vaccine mandates to concentraction camps emerged.
Taranaki King Country candidate Brent Miles, Auckland Central's Scott Boness, Kaipara ki Mahurangi's Anto Coates, and Waikato's Darren Gilchrist also pulled out, citing personal reasons for their withdrawals.
Coates had referred to Covid-19 as "mass hysteria" and in a parody song said former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern had thought about thowing people in a gulag.
