He served time in jail after downloading the livestream of the March 15 attacks, sharing it and asking a friend to add a video game-style “kill count”.

Earlier this year, he attempted to join anti-vaccine protests outside parliament in Wellington, telling a petrol station attendant “there’s going to be a public execution, I’ve been promising it. I’ll see you in seven to 10 years”.

Police blocked his travel to the capital after a member of the public heard his comments and called them in.

As of March this year, he has 50 previous convictions, has served 13 sentences of imprisonment and committed 19 offences while on bail.

However, as it stands, his candidacy is valid.

Associate Minister for Education Jan Tinetti told Radio NZ she had ordered an urgent review into the “grey area” which sets candidate eligibility.

“We are looking at whether those rules are strong enough or the interpretation of those rules are strong enough,” she said.

The review is due back next week, just before voting closes. Results are to be announced on September 13.

On Tuesday, AAP asked party leaders directly whether white supremacists should be able to run for school boards.

Opposition leader Chris Luxon, Greens leader Marama Davidson and ACT leader David Seymour didn’t engage with the question, instead saying voters should choose alternatives.

Loading

“I would have thought that it would be quite self-evident to people that he is not a good option,” Luxon said.

Seymour said “if it’s up to the government rather than the voters to decide who stands, is that still democracy?”

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also chose not to comment on his candidacy, saying the issues were “very much devolved” to schools.

Islamic Women Council NZ national coordinator Aliya Danzeisen said the case showed “there needs to be a national standard for character”.

“We require it to migrate to New Zealand. You would think we need it to make decisions on the standards of education for our children,” she told AAP.

Loading

Board members have powers to set parts of the curriculum studied, staff employment and student welfare.

Arps’ candidate statement lists “concerns with the new social constructs pushed” and urges voters not to believe mainstream media.

Christchurch-based Labour MP Megan Woods said the prospect of Arps winning had “caused a great deal of anxiety and concern and the local Muslim community”.

“I also know that the local community are a group of New Zealanders who moved here and respect the democratic institutions of New Zealand,” she said.

“They certainly have no desire, and neither do I, to see Mr Arps elected to that school board but I think they recognise that this is not a simple issue.”

AAP