National candidate walks out of Wellington Bays candidates debate

National Party candidate Karuna Muthu walked out of a Wellington Bays candidates' meeting at the Brooklyn Community Centre on Thursday night. Muthu left the event after claiming the questions were "loaded towards one particular side" and lacked the neutrality required for a democratic debate.

The incident occurred during a segment involving "yes/no" and "true or false" questions. The question immediately preceding Muthu's departure concerned whether candidates would support making Kiwibank a full bank so it could take on government banking and keep profits in New Zealand.

Muthu stated on Facebook that he attended the meeting in good faith and that walking out was a "matter of principle". He argued that participating in a forum with imbalanced moderation and rhetoric would lend legitimacy to a "staged event".

Labour candidate Craig Renney, who was present, suggested that Muthu may have had enough after seven debates in two days. Green MP Julie Anne Genter said the meeting was positive for the most part but noted that Muthu "could have stayed".

How it developed

• Fri 16 Oct, 3:25pmThe report notes that the Wellington Bays electorate is new for this election, replacing the Rongotai electorate currently held by Julie Anne Genter.

Where reports differ

• Julie Anne Genter suggested Muthu might be feeling sensitive due to National's lack of popularity in the area, whereas Muthu attributed his departure to a lack of neutrality and democratic integrity.

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, The Post and Stuff.