Māori Party Candidate “played fast & loose with the truth” home not target of 'racially motivated' attacks, say police

The home of Māori Party candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke was not the target of "racially motivated" attacks, according to police.

However, police did issue a trespass notice today after a man entered Maipi-Clarke's home and was asked to leave.

21 year old Maipi-Clarke had claimed her home was invaded and vandalised, with a threatening letter left behind.

Responding to Thursday’s incident, Maori Party president John Tamihere said "it is clear the incident today was politically motivated as the perpetrator is a well known advocate and campaigner for the National Party.

"There should be no doubt now in anyone's mind that National and ACT's race baiting has empowered and emboldened a dangerous type of human being who is hell bent on silencing Māori by targeting who they think is our most vulnerable.”

National Party campaign manager Chris Bishop said “an elderly member of the National Party has had grossly exaggerated allegations made about them by people involved with Te Pāti Māori.

“It is incredibly disappointing and upsetting for this individual to be dragged into a political stunt like this.

“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 member was invited inside but Maipi-Clarke was not available so he 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 him on Maipi-Clarke's campaign.

“This afternoon, this individual has been issued a trespass notice. They are bemused and disappointed by the whole situation.

The party member will not be making any further comment and the party is providing the family with support” Bishop said.

Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke said during a debate last week that people "ram-raided" her home and "came into my house and threatened me". 

In a statement, Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur said a person had been formally trespassed from Maipi-Clarke's Huntly home.

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.

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.

Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke said during a debate last week that people "ram-raided" her home and "came into my house and threatened me". 

But Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur said “this incident was incorrectly reported as a ram raid, when it was a theft.

"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.

“Te Pāti Māori has played fast and loose with the truth”

ACT Leader David Seymour said “police reports show that Te Pāti Māori has played fast and loose with the truth in their characterisation of an alleged home invasion.

“The police have confirmed there was no ‘home invasion’, there was no ‘ram raid’ and there was no racial motivation. They should apologise to all the genuine victims of serious crimes for making misleading criminal claims so they can play the victim.”

“First there was zero evidence to their claims that race-baiting from political rivals caused the incident, now it has been confirmed the incident itself was not a ram raid or a home invasion at all. It instead sounds like they were the victim of an election hoarding theft, as have many other parties in the area.

They have misled the people of New Zealand so they can smear their political rivals on the election campaign. This is politics at its lowest ebb.”