Green MP Tamatha Paul gets physical as campaign security debate heats up

Summarised by Centrist

Green MP Tamatha Paul physically pushed back an attendee and repeatedly ordered him to “get out” as he attempted to question former health minister Ayesha Verrall following a Wellington candidates’ meeting.

Reports characterised the incident as candidates being “forced to form a human barrier to protect Verrall”. The footage shows Jeremy Verity, a local activist, attempting to question Verrall, reportedly over the former minister’s role in approving vaccine dosages for young people. Paul and others closed ranks to prevent anyone from reaching her. It does not appear to show Verity attacking Verrall.

Verity claimed he had supplied the meeting’s sound system after being promised one question. As Verrall departed, he asked, “Can I just have my one question?” Paul appeared to respond, “We’re trying to leave,” before putting her hand against him and shouting, “No! Get out, get out, get out.”

Another attendee, John Ansell, loudly accused Verrall of having “mass-murdered people”. Verrall described the encounter as “planned intimidation” and said protesters crowded around her and blocked her exit.

Sean Plunket also challenged Ansell over indications that he, Verity and Barry Young had coordinated beforehand, including arranging a backup sound system, which Verity produced when his mic was turned off. Plunket called it a possible “setup” designed to “disrupt the meeting and embarrass and target Ayesha Verrall”. Ansell acknowledged the men had spoken and wanted answers, but did not substantiate his mass-murder claims.

Disruption is crossing political lines. Mike “Chewie” Bennett, co-host of the BHN podcast was removed from a Paul Henry-ACT event and arrested after refusing to provide police with his details. Bennett said he merely challenged Henry’s story; Henry said Bennett repeatedly yelled, accused him of lying and refused to leave. Protesters have also been removed from National and Chris Hipkins events.

Hipkins has earlier reported a death threat, Grey Power spent $1500 on guards, and police have appointed a national election commander. 

After police removed an elderly Māori protester from a Shane Jones meeting, lawyer Tania Waikato questioned the response, asking, “Surely there was a better way to deal with it Mr Jones?” The incidents highlight the increasingly difficult line between political questioning, disruption and the use of security or police to remove people from campaign events.

Hipkins has earlier reported a death threat, Grey Power spent $1,500 on guards, and police have appointed a national election commander.

Editor’s note: There is an irony in Paul relying on police intervention during a confrontation with political questioners given her previous promotion of what she called “radical police abolition”. It also sits uneasily beside her recent appeal to voters: “Show up to the debates.”

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