The election campaign is becoming increasingly hostile as police investigate what a Te Pāti Māori candidate has described as a "politically motivated attack" on her home.
Meanwhile, a Labour MP told Newshub of the moment she was slapped in the face during a heated confrontation.
Angela Roberts is used to the rough and tumble of political debate but she wasn't ready for a physical confrontation in Inglewood.
"Getting quite pointy, tall guy... and then he grabbed my shoulders and gave them a good shake," she said.
"He leaned in and slapped my cheeks and said 'enjoy being in Opposition'."
The Labour MP has since complained to the police. If that wasn't bad enough, events in Huntly have taken the kind of twist you'd see in a Hollywood stalker movie.
At 21, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke could become our youngest MP but she's been subjected to what amounts to a campaign of intimidation.
"To the people who came and vandalised my fence, don't be scared, because the kōhanga reo generation are here," she told The Hui on Friday.
They also sent her photos of her own rubbish with a political message. Then they left her locked door ajar twice - including last night after the debate.
"By the fourth time they are definitely trying to mess with our minds. They are trying to get a message to us: we don't want you to stand," her father Potaka Maipi said.
Police have confirmed an investigation is underway. Maipi-Clarke didn't want Newshub to film her house today.
"It's targeted at someone in particular and secondly they've gone out of their way to find out where she lives," Potaka said.
Her father is proud of his daughter but angry.
"And we had to either say nothing or speak out and say 'you know what, you're not going to scare us'," he said.
Potaka Maipi blames politicians for verbal abuse.
"There is certainly a platform that they use that is encouraging this kind of behaviour," he said.
Earlier this week, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters was confronted at a campaign rally by a woman who accused him of race-baiting.
"There's clearly some parties that are seeking to divide New Zealanders, that are setting one group of New Zealanders against another, whether it's an attack on Maori," Labour leader Chris Hipkins said.
"All of a sudden I'm responsible for that? Give me a break," Peters said.
"We condemn any threats or any violence on any candidate, their family or their property, it's entirely wrong," National leader Christopher Luxon said.
"Violence against political candidates in person, or their homes, has no place in our democracy," ACT leader David Seymour said.
All of which makes the incident seven years ago where a dildo was flung at former National MP Steven Joyce seem like it comes from a more innocent era.
