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"Nothing to do with us" Hipkins denies Labour involvement in ex-staffers social media trolling

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 13 May 2026, 3:06pm
Photo / Mark Mitchell
Photo / Mark Mitchell

"Nothing to do with us" Hipkins denies Labour involvement in ex-staffers social media trolling

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 13 May 2026, 3:06pm

Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins wouldn't say whether his internal polling indicates he would need Te Pāti Māori's support to form a government if Labour is successful in this year’s election.

Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, the Labour Party leader said the internal polling he receives shows Labour in the “high thirties”, and he is confident the party is on the right track to win in November.

"My goal is to make sure Labour gets the most votes and is in the strongest possible position going into any post-election discussion."

After it was revealed that an ex-Labour staffer is behind the social media account "luxury_marmite_sandwich", which has been trolling Government MPs, Hipkins said it had nothing to do with his party, and that some of the content posted by the page was objectionable.

"To be very, very clear, that has nothing to do with us"

"I have asked my office to go back to him (ex-staffer) and be very clear that no footage that he had access to from his time working for us should be used in any of the material that he is producing now."

They also discussed proposed changes to climate change laws, whether Hipkins believes there should be any further public funding for Christ Church Cathedral, and his thoughts on Judith Collins as she bows out of politics this week.

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