Jones says Nash saga would have been distraction during election
New Zealand First minister Shane Jones says Stuart Nash’s resignation following backlash over his recent comments is a “sensible” move to prevent the saga distracting from the party’s election campaign.
Nash accused National’s Napier MP and his electorate opponent Katie Nimon of being “lazy” for taking maternity leave.
The party has since announced Napier City councillor Te Kira Lawrence will replace Nash as the candidate to run against Nimon in Napier. Lawrence was previously earmarked to stand for the party in East Cape.
Speaking on Newstalk ZB’s The Country, Jones said Nash’s resignation was a “sad outcome” to the saga.
“Stuie offered his resignation, I’m advised. It is a sensible outcome. We wouldn’t want this distraction stewing indefinitely as we run up to the campaign.”
New Zealand First Candidate for Napier Te Kira Lawrence (right), who replaces Stuart Nash, pictured with party leader Winston Peters.
The comments were swifty condemned, including by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who called them “sexist” and said Nash would never serve in any Government Luxon might be able to form after the election.
Nash’s comments emerged during a podcast hosted by former Labour MP Phil Goff and former National MP Chris Finlayson called Cross Party Lines. During the episode, Finlayson quoted a text message he claimed he had received from Nash.
Finlayson had been speaking positively about Nimon on a previous episode, saying she “had a very good future”. Finlayson read Nash’s response out: “Comments like yours motivate and drive me harder.”
“Katie took nine months off on full pay, went back for a week, then took another month off.
“Laziest MP I have ever come across. Nice woman, but ill-suited to the rigours of being an electorate MP.”
Nash resigned late on Wednesday night. In a social media post, the former Labour MP said he did not want the distraction to cost NZ First or the people of Napier.
“As a husband and a father of four (including two strong, independent daughters), I have real respect for any working parent and I regret that my words were open to an interpretation I never intended.”
Former New Zealand First Napier candidate Stuart Nash, left, and current Napier MP for National Katie Nimon. Photo / NZME
Jones said in revealing the text message publicly, Finlayson was trying to “seek grace and favour within the National Party”.
“It is sad the matter has ended in this way; I have known Stu for a long time.
“No doubt, Stuie will go on with his life and address local issues with his community, his whānau. He is someone I have known for a long, long time, but he will not be a part of our campaign running up to November 7.”
Jones has also been criticised for his recent comments, which Labour said had a sexual implication.
Jones denies he was being crass when he stated at his party convention on Saturday: “Labour Party, National Party, Act Party, Green Party, the next time you go to an ethno-nationalist rally to receive a foreign leader, take off your kneepads” – an apparent dig at Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.
The NZ First minister has blamed a “virus of wokeism” in the media for the backlash over his commentary.
“You know as well as I do that the woke-riddled younger generation of journo ... conveniently tried to invoke something risqué into that remark.
“That remark could have related to health and safety, to sport, to gardening.”
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.
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