Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wasn't unsafe amid protests at yesterday's Big Gay Out in Auckland, a Labour MP says.
Labour's rainbow spokesperson Shanan Halbert was also at the event. He told Breakfast today: "[The] prime minister walked through and sadly was confronted by trans rights activists and also those activists for Palestine.
"There was a large group there. Everyone else, thousands of people celebrating around them — but that was his experience, probably unexpected in his sense."
Halbert said the community was asking Luxon to step up.
Asked about Luxon feeling he had to leave, the Labour MP said: "I didn't see that it was unsafe in any way.
"Certainly there was people shouting, but the rainbow community has a history of activism and if you understand our community, you'll know and celebrate that too."
Halbert added that he shares the protesters' concerns.
Later in the interview, he said Luxon is "out of touch" with the rainbow community.
Is New Zealand 'fragile'?
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick and ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden both said the nation was facing division – but they disagreed over where that was coming from. (Source: Breakfast)
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick and ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden joined Breakfast later in the show.
The pair discussed Luxon's State of the Nation speech yesterday, agreeing with the prime minister's assertion "the state of the nation is fragile". Swarbrick and van Velden both said division was key to that perceived fragility.
Luxon gave his speech shortly before the incident at Big Day Out.
Swarbrick responded that, "ironically", she'd agree the nation is fragile: "The role of political leaders is to make sure that we have an opportunity for a more unified Aotearoa New Zealand. You don't get there by continuing to spark the culture wars over addressing the cost of living crisis that you were ostensibly elected upon."
Swarbrick also hit out at his "tough choices" rhetoric, criticising the Government's direction.
"I'm sorry if he's not sleeping well at night, but I'd say that probably reflects the reality that these are not the right choices to be making."
Van Velden also agreed that the state of New Zealand is "fragile".
"It's because we've been under Labour for the last few years," she said, echoing Luxon's criticism of the previous government.
"We've also been seeing division... That's not caused by this government, that's the previous government."
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