Auckland mayoral candidate Efeso Collins and his family have nearly been forced off the road by two cars hurling abuse at them.
The couple and their two daughters, aged 9 and 2, were travelling near KFC Te Atatu in Auckland on Monday when two cars merged dangerously and almost forced Collins' car off the road.
Collins' wife Fia posted on Facebook about the incident saying at first they thought it was an accident.
"Sadly as we were driving together these vehicles dangerously cut us off at the merging lane where KFC Te Atatu is," Fia wrote on Facebook.
"At first I thought oh maybe they didn’t see us. But then they beeped their horns, wound their windows down and did all sorts of hand signals at us."
Fia condemned the incident saying she understands not everyone will agree with them, but there is no need to try to cause an accident.
"I understand there will be people who will disagree with us - that’s cool. But what’s not cool is driving dangerously and causing an accident on the road," Fia wrote.
"It’s not good for u or for us. So if u have something to say it’s not hard to find me or Fes - contact us properly and lets have a proper conversation. But please don’t be an irresponsible coward and drive like an idiot on the road (sic)."
Fia said running for public office is a privilege, but one that comes at a "cost that may not always be seen or understood".
"My children are so proud of the new campaign vehicle - proud because their daddy’s face is on it and proud because their Uncle Opeta designed it. Fes is not standing on his own - we’re right there alongside him for the ride," Fia wrote.
Collins' campaign team reportedly contacted the police road incident line about the incident and provided them with details of the licence plates.
There was an outpouring of support for Collins and his family with many people, including several councillors, responding to Fia's Facebook post.
Shane Henderson, a councillor for Waitakere who also drives a car with his name on it, said he was "ashamed to say this behaviour happens to me far too many times".
"It saddens me that people don't seem to worry that it's my kids in the car that they're endangering too," Henderson said.
Councillor Cathy Casey also responded and called for the hating to stop.
"I am so glad you are calling out this threatening and dangerous behaviour. The police should definitely follow up. They won't be so brave when they are called to account at law. The hating has to stop," Casey wrote.
Councillor Angela Dalton responded saying "That is totally not ok !!"
It's not the first time Auckland mayoral candidates have been targeted by members of the public.
Fellow Auckland mayoral candidate Craig Lord and his son ended up in hospital after an altercation with a "drunk and/or heavy on drugs" driver near their home in Blockhouse Bay on June 18.
Lord, with the help of his son and two neighbours, was able to restrain the man but not before the driver swung at his face leaving him with a "Harry Potter scar".
