New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has responded to "crass" comments made by Shane Jones and a text message that got Stuart Nash in hot water after returning from an overseas trip to Asia.
The party has battled a political storm in recent weeks regarding sexist comments made by the party's now former Napier candidate Nash, and NZ First minister Jones' remarks about other party leaders' "kneepads" at his party's convention.
Peters was overseas when Nash's comments went public, and shortly afterwards said in a post on X that "Stuart Nash has offered his resignation as a candidate and we have accepted".
Asked to respond to Nash's comments calling National MP Katie Nimon lazy for taking parental leave, Peters told Breakfast it was "totally unfortunate as a comment, they were not right".
Departure from the Napier electorate race isn’t enough for some, who insist he should apologise. (Source: 1News)
"When I heard that overseas, and don't forget, I was going to about 35 different engagements with all sorts of speeches to be made while this is being played out in New Zealand.
"But in the time that it took to find out what had been said, the matter was concluded," he explained.
Nash has since apologised to Nimon.
Breakfast host Tova O’Brien asked if someone in the New Zealand First team told Nash that it was untenable for him to remain as a candidate, or if he had resigned of his own accord.
Peters responded: "Well, the conversation was of that nature that he submitted his resignation.
"The sad thing about it, of course, is that he was a very good minister, and I observed other ministers when I was there in that administration, who were not confident, who weren't able to do their job properly. And he was very, very good at the job,” Peters said.
Asked whether Nash resigned, or was told to resign, Peters said: "The outcome is the same. I got the facts, and these facts are untenable. You must go."
Peters added that Nash had “paid a price for making a terrible mistake”.
Asked about Nash’s previous comments regarding women, Peters said: "We always give people a chance. Look, the reality is we all make mistakes.”
O’Brien asked: “Would he have any path back to NZ First?... Would you give him another another chance?”
To which Peters replied: “That door is closed.”
“These decisions are very hard to make, especially when you're tied up with a lot of other serious international work. But in the end, the truth is that this party that I represent and lead has had a serious record when it comes to looking after the interests of women, and in circumstances where other parties have not been supportive,” Peters said.
NZ First moved quickly to replace the again-disgraced Nash in Napier, naming sitting city councillor Te Kira Lawrence as its candidate less than a day after Nash's resignation
Peters responds to Shane Jones' comments
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hosted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, marking the first time in 40 years an Indian prime minister has come to New Zealand.
At the New Zealand First convention following the visit, Jones made the comments when speaking on other political parties dealing with India while referencing the recent visit.
NZ First deputy leader advised other parties to take off the knee pads when “receiving a foreign leader”. (Source: 1News)
"The next time you go to an ethno-nationalist rally to receive a foreign leader, take off your knee pads," Jones said.
Luxon labelled these comments as "crass and unprofessional".
Asked about these comments made by Jones, Peters said the Prime Minister’s behaviour toward Indian PM Modi was "obsequious".
"I’m sorry, the Prime Minister's behaviour was obsequious. It was subservient. It was kowtowing to a matter where the diaspora meeting had nothing to do with New Zealand, nothing to do with our politics. What he was doing there was beyond me."
At one point O'Brien attempted to ask Peters about the crude remarks, he cut her off and stated: "this is appalling".
"Stop right now. This is disgusting misuse of the language. It is a friction. It is a total lie. None of that was meant. What Shane Jones said was this was a subservient act. You should not have engaged in it."
Jones has said he was not referring to oral sex as it had been widely interpreted, instead saying it was a colourful expression.
"Sadly, people have read luridity into it, whereas all I was meaning is that when you go to an event hosted for ethno-national purposes for a foreign leader, number one, don't bow down."
Peters responds to Paul Henry's comments
Peters was also asked about Paul Henry’s comments after he was announced he would run for the ACT party, that he used to host the TV reality competition The Traitors "so I know a little bit more about Winston Peters and New Zealand First than anyone else".
Peters responded: "The marvellous thing about this campaign, ladies and gentlemen, will be about New Zealand First. What we stand for, and our great record, it will not be about these sideshows, and that's one of those questions."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Winston Peters addresses the Stuart Nash saga, and what Sydney Sweeney’s up to in Queenstown. (Source: 1News)
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