Police have confirmed an investigation is underway after Te Pāti Māori said one of the party's candidates was the victim of a home invasion.
A spokesperson told Newshub: "Police are making enquiries into a report of a burglary of a residential address in Huntly, reported on September 25."
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke, Te Pāti Māori's Hauraki-Waikato candidate, said during a debate on Friday that people "ram-raided" her home and "came into my house and threatened me".
"I'm not scared and I'm not fearful. I'm here to be a courage and here to be a light and a māramatanga (enlightenment) for us, that we belong in these places. Kia ora," she told The Hui.
Te Pāti Māori alleged the burglary was "politically motivated".
"Our Hauraki-Waikato candidate, Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke's home was invaded, vandalised and left with a threatening letter," the party said in a statement. "This premeditated and targeted attack is the latest of three incidents to take place at Hana's home just this week.
"To our knowledge, this is the first time in our history that a politician's home and personal property has been invaded to this extent.
"This escalation of danger is what happens when right-wing politicians race-bait and fearmonger for votes."
It comes after Māori leaders in an open letter on Friday called for an end to dog-whistling and race-baiting on the campaign trail.
