Christopher Luxon’s Tāmaki walkabout prompts advice for supporters to leave National blue at home

A message circulated among supporters of National candidate Mahesh Muralidhar has advised them not to wear party-blue clothing during a campaign walkabout expected to include Christopher Luxon. The instruction, reported by the New Zealand Herald, said supporters should be able to engage with people “organically.” The message was sent by a volunteer to a group chat linked to Muralidhar’s campaign in the Auckland electorate of Tāmaki. The volunteer confirmed its contents to the Herald, which did not identify them. The note also gave participants information about when and where to gather, while saying the final numbers were still being confirmed. National said asking supporters to avoid party merchandise at public campaign events was not unusual. In a statement to the Herald, the party said the aim was to avoid making people in the area feel they were interrupting a private National Party gathering while candidates and supporters were out campaigning. The walkabout comes as National seeks to win back Tāmaki, which it held for decades before ACT’s Brooke van Velden captured the seat at the last election. Van Velden has since retired from politics. ACT candidate James Christmas and Labour’s Max Harris are among those contesting the electorate alongside Muralidhar. The report also recalled criticism of a 2020 National campaign walkabout in Ponsonby, where supporters were said to have been strategically positioned. Then-New Zealand First leader Winston Peters labelled the gathering “rent-a-crowd.” National’s explanation this time is that keeping party branding out of view helps the public-facing event feel open rather than like a party function. Muralidhar has also drawn attention for acknowledging some Labour small-business policies at a candidate event. In footage obtained by the Herald, he described aspects of Labour’s proposals as interesting and spoke positively about what he saw as greater heart among left-leaning parties. The report says Labour praised his remarks.