Labour’s Tāmaki Makaurau candidate Peeni Henare has stood by his personal support for repealing the gang patch law, despite Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni clarifying the party has “no intention” of scrapping the legislation.
At a debate, Henare said “āe” when asked about repeal, later explaining it was his personal view shaped by whānau experience, not party policy.
His stance drew criticism from Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who accused Labour of inconsistency, while Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the exchange highlighted the difference between a mainstream party and one “advocating directly” for Māori.
Henare said he would continue to push for laws that better support Māori communities, while Labour’s leadership downplayed the incident as a misunderstanding rather than a split.
Labour planning to go soft on crime again.
Last night, Peeni Henare confirmed Labour will repeal the gang patch ban if they win the next election. Te Pāti Māori's Oriini Kaipara quickly says yes, and then Henare clearly says āe, which is yes in te reo. pic.twitter.com/T5kbzE2SoR
— Suit and tie (@Suitandtie9999) August 20, 2025
Get rid of pit bulls too
No need for them
All part of the culture and image
Or a hang over
When is a patch not a flag and vice versa?
Ban the gangs.
I prefer that they do wear their patched vest- that way I know who I’m dealing with.
Freedom of speech, expression, and visuals are a right, even though many do not agree with the visual representation of a sub culture or anti-social messaging. One has the right to express who they are in many protected – by – law forms.
The patch not only identifies who they are, but also their adopted heritage after being marginalised, blacklisted, and sidelined from mainstream society. Several generations of families are part of this scenario, and-
when you remove the patch, you remove their heritage.
Removing one’s heritage (adopted or natural) is defined under International Law as a facet of Genocide.
I agree with the pit bull comment- those are four-legged weaponised creatures.
Keep one thing in mind: IF New Zealand were ever invaded, the Patched Gangs would be the first in line to protect the country, as after all; they hold a sizable cache of ‘illegal’ weapons in which to defend the country from outside invaders.
Law abiding Citizens have had their MSSA Firearms confiscated by the former Communist / Zionist / WEF-WHO Labour Government, which was responsible for the on-going quiet Genocide via the Covid Bio-Weapon ‘Vaccine’.
The Covid Vaccine Inquiry has stopped the hearing, and NZDSOS has been fined NZ$80K by the corrupt Jewdicial System for demanding justice and the revealing of truth..!
That says it all doesn’t it. Fitting that the Labour Party colours are red.
Much better out there in the real world without gang patches.
No matter how you may feel about gangs, its patches they are banning today and its political causes and their symbols, they don’t like, tomorrow. This is all part of slow creep authoritarianism and needs to be confronted and rejected. Do we want to end up like the police states being constructed in Australia and the UK/Germany and France?
We are already there.