Green candidate who condemned workplace bullying posts profane clip with Seymour pictured

Summarised by Centrist

Green Party candidate Tania Waikato has been accused of hypocrisy after posting a video of herself mouthing profane and dismissive lyrics with an image of ACT leader David Seymour behind her.

The post comes after Waikato publicly condemned conduct she characterised as workplace bullying and previously said it would be difficult not to punch Seymour and Winston Peters if she entered Parliament.

In the Instagram story circulated online, Waikato appears to mouth profane lyrics while Seymour is pictured in the background. According to screenshots of the story, she added that the song was not directed at anyone and she simply liked it.

Waikato is standing for the Greens in Waiariki, as confirmed by the party’s official candidate list.

In 2025, Waikato posted another video carrying the words: “I know it’s going to be hard not to punch David Seymour and Winston.” Green co-leader Marama Davidson shared the post before saying its point could have been made without language that appeared to condone violence.

Davidson said violence should never be directed at anyone and denied endorsing it. She said the post instead reflected frustration with what she called divisive and harmful rhetoric from political leaders. Chris Lynch Media reported the exchange.

Waikato has since criticised Parliament’s treatment of Te Pāti Māori MPs, arguing that comparable conduct in an ordinary workplace would result in workplace-bullying allegations.

The Green Party’s charter lists non-violence as one of its four founding principles and says non-violent conflict resolution applies “at all levels”. 

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