Police have arrested a man for allegedly threatening to kill National MP Simeon Brown.
Brown, National's Police and Corrections spokesperson, complained to the police on Tuesday about threats made against him and, on Saturday, police confirmed a 22-year-old man had been arrested without incident in Christchurch.
"He is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday June 3 2021 where he will face a charge of threatening to kill. Police continue to make further enquiries in relation to the threats received."
A 25-year-old man appeared in court earlier this month also accused of threatening to kill Brown. The man, who was arrested in Lower Hutt, entered no plea and was granted name suppression.
National leader Judith Collins revealed to The AM Show on Wednesday that Brown had received death threats after criticising the actions of gang members at a funeral in the Hawke's Bay earlier this week.
He shared an image of gang members riding their motorcycles on both sides of the road and holding up traffic.
"Unbelievable. Another gang funeral in Hawkes Bay where gang members were able to take over the road. This should not be tolerated," he wrote.
Brown told Newshub he received "a number" of threatening messages on Tuesday night, which he took to police.
Police have arrested several attendees of the tangi for allegedly breaching bail conditions and seized four vehicles.
Waikato Mongrel Mob public relations representative Louise Hutchinson said his comments were "culturally insensitive" and offensive to the family of the man who died. She set up a petition to have Brown sacked, accusing him of inciting racial division "by ignoring that tangihanga is part of enduring Māori ceremony".
But he wasn't backing down.
"If the gangs are trying to get me sacked, I must be doing something right," Brown told Newshub on Thursday.
