Women MPs say Nash backlash shows shift in attitudes to working mums

By Lauren Crimp of RNZ

National MP Katie Nimon says decency has prevailed and women are vindicated after Stuart Nash’s resignation as a New Zealand First candidate.

Nash, a former Labour Cabinet minister who was standing in the Napier seat against Nimon, labelled her lazy for taking parental leave.

The comment was roundly condemned across the political spectrum as sexist and misogynistic, and he resigned on Wednesday night.

That left an opening in the Napier electorate, which has been swept up by Te Kira Lawrence, a sitting Napier councillor who has switched from being NZ First’s East Cape candidate.

Stuart Nash's comments about Katie Nimon's parental leave were widely condemned as sexist and misogynist, leading to his resignation. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Nimon said she had not heard from Nash since his comments and resignation.

“I just like to think that decency prevails,” she told RNZ.

“In all of this, a lot of women have felt ... personally vindicated, just to see that there are consequences for being hot-headed and thoughtless with your words, because actually what he said wasn’t even true.”

Nash said Nimon took nine months off after having her son, Lochie.

• Jones says Nash saga would have been distraction during election
• Napier MP dubbed 'lazy' reacts to Stuart Nash resigning after 'sexist' remark

In reality, she returned to electorate work when he was 10 weeks old, and returned to Parliament after six months.

“It’s really hard, and I think that it’s my responsibility to be honest about it too,” Nimon said.

“There is no right way of being a working parent, and you’ve got to do what works for you.”

She said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Speaker Gerry Brownlee and National whip Stuart Smith had encouraged her to take all the time she needed after Lochie was born last year.

“Every time I was either in the House late or in select committee for long hours, that was my choice, and I love that I didn’t feel guilted into it, didn’t feel like it was my obligation,” she said.

“We have such an amazing team of strong women who have all done it before as well. They show me that example, but I also remember I’m an example to others.”

Katie Nimon says women feel vindicated after Nash’s sexist comment and exit. Photo / Mark Mitchell

She had heard from people across the political spectrum who told her they did not stand for Nash’s comment, and supported her work.

“Hopefully, all the women and working mums and working parents out there are feeling really good about themselves today.”

Mums of Parliament agree: It’s hard work

Several other sitting MPs have had babies while in Parliament.

Nimon inherited a baby bouncer from Minister for Women and National MP Nicola Grigg, who first received it from Labour’s Camilla Belich.

Minister for Women and National MP Nicola Grigg. Photo / Getty Images

Grigg spoke to RNZ from an office furnished with a portacot and pram, nappies in the cupboards and teddies scattered.

She recalled pacing the streets delivering leaflets during the 2023 election campaign, heavily pregnant, before taking some time off to have her son.

“It is hard, and there’s no point even trying to deny it. We work really long hours, we have a punishing travel schedule, children don’t sleep when they’re told to sleep.

“But you know what? You just make it happen. Jacinda Ardern, as the Prime Minister of New Zealand, made it happen. I’m making it happen.”

Grigg said Nash had no choice but to resign.

“There is absolutely no place for people like that in our House of Representatives.”

Belich said being a mum in Parliament was hard work.

“I’m grateful to the mothers that went before me in the House.

“I didn’t have hesitation that I couldn’t be a pregnant MP, and I think that that’s a real testament to a lot of those mothers who went before and showed that it could be done.”

The strength of public backlash against Nash’s comments showed that attitudes towards working mothers had shifted, she said.

“We should always be working to try and make sure that Parliament is a place that everyone can aspire to be a part of, and we should be accommodating no matter what stage of life they are at.”

Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime was the first person to breastfeed in the House, after rules changed in 2017 to allow it.

Labour's Willow-Jean Prime. Photo / Mark Mitchell

She received a lot of support for that, she said, but there was also vitriol.

“The fact that I am a māmā influences the way that I do politics, my thinking, the things that we fight for.

“As somebody who is a mum and a member of Parliament, I found [Nash’s] comments offensive. I know how hard it is to do both of those jobs.”

Green MP Julie-Anne Genter has had two babies while in Parliament, one of whom was born two months after Ardern’s daughter.

“We want our House of Parliament to look like the rest of New Zealand, and if you’re missing out on parents of young children, then you’re missing out on a really important perspective in your representation,” she said.

She was glad Luxon had condemned Nash’s comments.

“I’d like to see him do that more with other misogynistic and homophobic and racist comments from some of his Cabinet colleagues.”

Speaking to media today, Luxon said Nash owed Nimmo an apology.

“He did the right thing resigning.”

This story was first published on rnz.co.nz