Originally published on Thursday 5 October*
Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke. Photo: Supplied / Erica Sinclair
Police have confirmed they are investigating five reports of concern about behaviour targeted towards Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke - but do not believe the incidents are racially motivated or coordinated.
In a statement, Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur said a person had been formally trespassed from Maipi-Clarke's Huntly home on Thursday. It was not classified as a home-invasion-style entry into the house.
He said an election hoarding was stolen from the property on 25 September, but added a range of hoardings in the area from a range of political parties were also stolen or defaced.
This incident was incorrectly reported as a ram raid, when it was a theft, he said.
Police have also followed up on reports of a suspicious vehicle, but do not believe it is linked to any intentions at the property at this stage.
A report of an alleged burglary and threatening note have been investigated - but police have been unable to establish any criminality.
Enquiries into those reports were continuing, Harpur said.
"During the period in which the reports have been made, police have visited the property on several occasions to investigate the reports and provide reassurance. Staff have offered crime prevention and safety advice to those occupants," he said.
"Police do not believe that the incidents have been racially motivated or coordinated. While we acknowledge that the incidents in which people have come on to the property will have been unsettling, we do not believe these constitute a home-invasion style entry into the house.
"The key focus for police over the election period is to maintain law and order and to ensure the right to freedom of expression is protected.
"That includes ensuring candidates and their teams feel safe and confident to carry out their work in the lead-up to the election."
Harpur said police were regularly monitoring the campaigning of candidates and any consideration for police presence or action was made on a case-by-case basis.
Tamihere unhappy over police stance
Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere said the party did not accept the latest police statement regarding its candidate and would be filing a civil law suit after the election.
He said it was a whitewash but it was not surprising from the police.
The man who had visited Maipi-Clarke had been trespassed but had not been charged over being unlawfully there.
"The stretch between the two is not big," Tamihere told RNZ.
However, the National Party said the claims were "grossly exaggerated allegations" and the man only wished to congratulate Maipi-Clarke and wish her the best for her campaign.
"An elderly member of the National Party has had grossly exaggerated allegations made about them by people involved with Te Pāti Māori," the party said in a statement.
"This individual recently spoke to Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke at a local meet the candidates event to tell her how impressive she was. At the meeting, they spoke about where she lived as they were both locals.
"Upon seeing a poll result this week showing Maipi-Clarke closely behind the incumbent, this individual visited her home with the intention of congratulating her and wishing her all the best for her campaign. The individual was invited inside but she was not available so they returned home. Another person from the home then went to the party member's home and asked for their name and phone number so he could update them on Maipi-Clarke's campaign.
"This afternoon, this individual has been issued a trespass notice and is bemused and disappointed by the whole situation. The party member will not be making any comment and the party is providing the family with support."
The party said it was incredibly disappointing and upsetting for the person to be "dragged into a political stunt like this".
Tamihere said civil proceedings would be opened against the man who visited Maipi-Clarke and in that way the police evidence would have to be made available, he said.
He added that Maipi-Clarke, who is one of the country's youngest candidates, was not being believed by some people but the party had faith in her.
He said she was "traumatised" by the experience and it was unacceptable how it had been handled.
Editorial note: This article has been updated to include the latest statement from the National Party providing details about the person believed to have entered Maipi-Clarke's home.
