Labour Minister Willie Jackson says there has been a "violent" change in political debate after a woman allegedly attacked Jacinda Ardern's electorate office.
Jackson has called the incident a "threat of violence" aimed at our Prime Minister.
A 57-year-old woman has been arrested over wilful damage at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Mt Albert electorate office earlier on Thursday. Ardern's office was left with a shattered window and what appears to be a samurai sword was lying nearby.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said no one was at the building at the time. She had no further information to provide.
Jackson said on a Facebook post, the woman argues she had "long-standing grievances" with the Prime Minister.
"That doesn't justify symbolic destruction and smoke bombing her electorate office," he said.
"There has been a violent change of political debate in this country that has gone from the normal and vigorous disagreement a democracy requires to unhinged conspiracy theories which justify political violence.
"Attacking the PM's office with a sword and smoke bombing it are not legitimate responses in a democracy, they are the unacceptable actions of a fragment of society who have ended up believing conspiracy theories that are deeply harmful."
Jackson continued by urging Kiwis to reach out to whānau and friends who may have convinced themselves of some "crazy secret conspiracy" to remind them they are loved.
"This type of irrational vandalism is not a future we want in this country," Jackson said. "We are New Zealanders, and we are better than this act of vandalism by one person."
Police hadn't responded to Newshub about the claims a smoke bomb was let off.
