Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere claims the man who was allegedly trespassed for entering the home of one of its candidates has National Party billboards outside his house.
It's not the first time 21-year-old Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke has been targeted. Last Friday, Te Pāti Māori said her home was invaded and vandalised.
Te Pāti Māori released an explosive late-night statement on Wednesday saying Maipi-Clarke's home was invaded again on Wednesday morning.
The Māori Party said an elderly Pākeha man was issued a trespass notice and claimed he was a "well-known" advocate and campaigner for the National Party.
In response, a National Party spokesperson said those were "serious allegations" and police had not been in touch with them.
"Te Pāti Māori's comments are the first time we were made aware of these allegations. National utterly rejects racism and any suggestion that we have engaged in race-baiting."
The Māori Party also accused police of failing and not taking the matter of "politically motivated" attacks on Maipi-Clarke "seriously".
Appearing on AM on Thursday morning, Tamihere revealed more details of how the alleged home invasion happened.
He said it's the fourth time Maipi-Clarke has been targeted in recent weeks.
Tamihere doubled down on the late-night statement.
"The fact is a very mature pākeha gentleman, unlocked her gate, walked up her drive... he walks up to the house," he said. "He did not appreciate her car was out because she was campaigning in Te Kuiti. So, her car was not there, he's a local he knows the lay (of the land) [and] walks straight up to the door and enters.
"He then gets sprung by an occupant because one of the whānau was there to look after the property. That person said to him, 'What the f are you doing here? Get the f out.' He said, 'Oh, I thought Hana was out on the campaign trail.' He turns and then bolts out," Tamihere alleged.
Tamihere told AM the family member then followed the man back to his house.
When questioned about how he knew the man was a National supporter, Tamihere claimed the man's house had National Party hoardings on it.
"Well, when he ran back to his house, which was 200 metres down the road, his house had National Party hoardings on it. Now I'm only putting one and one together," he said.
"You're not allowed to pay people to advertise your hoardings, it's got to be by consent.
"I'm only putting one and one together to determine that, but here's the thing. Huntly is a very small place and everyone knows he's a National Party supporter."
Tamihere then hit out at police, saying officers didn't check the handwriting of the man to see if it was the same person who sent the "threatening message from the last break-in".
When questioned if he thought he was the same person from last week's burglary, Tamihere said it's a police matter.
He also doubled down on his party's claims made in Wednesday night's statement that police "treat us differently because we are brown".
He told AM if a "Māori had done that to a Pākeha candidate, I can guarantee you they would be in a lock-up".
ACT has hit back at Te Pāti Māori on Thursday morning, refuting its claims.
In the statement on Wednesday night, Te Pāti Māori said the home invasion was caused by "National and ACT's race-baiting", which "empowered and emboldened a dangerous type of human being who is hell-bent on silencing Māori by targeting who they think is our most vulnerable".
But ACT Party leader David Seymour said there is "zero evidence to support this claim" and he believes Te Pāti Māori shouldn't be taken "seriously" by media until they produce evidence.
"ACT condemns any acts of abuse or violence on the campaign trail but trying to stir up political division by baselessly accusing other party leaders of responsibility only makes things worse," Seymour said.
"Te Pāti Māori refuse to comment further because there's a police investigation but they still politicise it. This both excuses political violence by saying it's caused by someone else and risks justifying violence in retaliation."
Meanwhile, Chris Hipkins has accused right-leaning parties of "using" Māori to gain votes.
The Labour Leader made the comments to about 600 supporters at his online town hall meeting on Wednesday night.
Hipkins claims "picking on minorities" is a tactic designed to drive votes to National, ACT and New Zealand First.
He said there are many examples of it happening.
"Whether it's Winston Peters talking about an 'Asian invasion', David Seymour talking about blowing up the Ministry for Pacific Peoples or the National Party scaremongering about co-governance," Hipkins said.
It comes after a group of Māori and community leaders called for National leader Christopher Luxon to condemn "racist" comments by a New Zealand First candidate and "race-baiting" policies by the ACT Party - both of which are the Nats' prospective coalition partners.
A police spokesperson said it expects to provide a statement on the latest home invasion later on Thursday morning.
Watch the full interview with John Tamihere in the video above.
