Simon Bridges says the Prime Minister needs to "step up" after Labour MP Meka Whaitiri stood down yesterday amid a staffing issue and fellow MP Clare Curran was demoted from Cabinet last Friday for failing to disclose a meeting.
1 NEWS understands Ms Whaitiri stood down due to an allegation of assault made against her.
"It's unprecedented to have two ministers stood down in a week in unrelated circumstances, I've certainly wracked my brain and can't think of another example of that. I think it shows a pretty shambolic Government," Mr Bridges said.
"It's Clare Curran, who should have been sacked and wasn't," he said.
"And now this with Meka Whaitiri."
He said the last week showed "pretty weak leadership".
"The Prime Minister has got to step up and show she can lead on these serious issues and be decisive and not just let them amble along as a shambles, as we're seeing at the moment.
"Very messy, very incompetent."
Earlier today, Ms Ardern told media she has high expectations of her Ministers.
The PM wouldn’t comment about the assault allegations against Meka Whaitiri but snapped at one question about ministerial issues and business confidence, saying “it’s called being in government.” (Source: Other)
"They know that we have a standard that New Zealanders expect of us, we're in office, we're there to represent them," she said.
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