‘Words didn’t come out quite right’: National MPs arrive at Parliament after PM apology

National Party Deputy leader Nicola Willis defended her leader this morning, saying Christopher Luxon’s decision to apologise for remarks made to Rotorua businesses would not cause another round of leadership speculation.

“We have a very capable Prime Minister leading the country in what are challenging times, making the decisions to ensure we are moving forward,” Willis told the Mike Hosking Breakfast on Newstalk ZB.

Luxon apologised on Monday after last week describing a business community’s concerns as taking a “negative view” and saying they should be acting like an “adult”. He said there was a “parent-child mentality” between government and business.

Willis said Luxon’s apology did him credit by acknowledging an error.

“I think this is about his integrity, which is that yes he stands by his philosophy, but equally where he thinks he’s caused offence he’s going to fess up and apologise – good on him.”

Asked by host Mike Hosking whether she gave Luxon an “ear bashing” at Monday morning’s Cabinet meeting, Willis said: “No, there was no ear bashing at Cabinet.

“It’s the mark of the man, as the Rotorua Mayor has reflected this morning. He was simply sorry that his comments hadn’t acknowledged the challenge that many small businesses face that sit outside their control, and he wanted to be clear and he understands that.

“Equally it remains his position and the Government’s position that the way through New Zealand’s economic challenges is not to be subsidising businesses – that’s long been our position.”

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell, who has previously run as a National candidate, told RNZ that there was no need for Luxon to apologise.

“I don’t think it’s a time for our leaders in New Zealand to be soft. We need to know the truth. We need to be honest, and we need to set a pathway forward,” Tapsell said.

National MPs are arriving at Parliament this morning for their caucus meeting, which occurs every Tuesday morning when Parliament is sitting.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith arriving at Parliament. Photo / Adam Pearse 

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said he supported Luxon, and that Luxon himself had made clear that “the words didn’t come out quite right” at the Rotorua event.

“The words didn’t come out quite right and obviously we’re hugely supportive of small businesses up and down the country,” Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith said Luxon was right to apologise.

“The words that came out gave the impression that we don’t support small businesses – of course we do.

“These things happen.”

Simeon Brown, the National campaign chair, repeatedly said Luxon had apologised for the remarks when asked what he thought of them.

He said that was the “end of the matter”, but, when the Herald pushed back, saying some businesses may believe those comments reflect how Luxon thinks about them, Brown said no one backs small business more than National.

Brown questioned Labour’s commitment to business, saying that while the political party may be posting a lot on social media, they hadn’t explained how they would fund their promises. He also asked whether they would keep the Government’s Investment Boost scheme.

“So it might be all well and good for Labour to get on their Facebook pages and make all sorts of high and mighty remarks, but the real question is, will they keep it or will they axe it?”

Brown said he fully backed Luxon and denied the comments had hurt the National leader’s relationship with business.

He also said there would be no leadership challenge.

Defence Minister Chris Penk. Photo / Thomas Coughlan 

Defence Minister Chris Penk said there was no chatter over the weekend about a leadership change.

Penk said that everyone can occasionally misspeak.

“Every person is capable of misspeaking – we’ve all done it. In this case, he didn’t mean to come across in the way some had said that he did.”

Grant McCallum, National’s Northland MP, said he supported the Prime Minister.

He said small businesses in his electorate would be supportive of the Government signing a $3.6 billion agreement to deliver the first section of the Northland Expressway, as well as Kaitāia Hospital getting its first CT scanner.

Suze Redmayne, the party’s junior whip, said Luxon’s actions showed he supported small business, noting he regularly visited businesses.

Asked what small businesses in Northland would think of Luxon’s remarks, local MP Grant McCallum said they would be “delighted we are building a new highway, $3.5 billion worth of investment - it’s going to transform Northland”.

“Of course I support the Prime Minister,” McCallum said.

West Coast-Tasman MP Maureen Pugh said she had not seen Luxon’s remarks about small business because she had left her phone for “three days” and had been unable to read the news.

List MP Nancy Lu said the prime minster was right to apologise but that the party “backed small businesses” with policies like Investment Boost.

Peters remarks ‘racist’ - National MPs

MPs were also asked whether they believed remarks made by Foreign Minister Winston Peters about Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan were racist.

Xu-Nan was born in China but has lived in New Zealand since 1994. Peters unloaded on Xu-Nan in the debating chamber last week telling him to “go back” to his “own country”.

National Party Junior Whip Suze Redmayne was asked three times whether Peters’ remarks were racist. Initially, she did not respond, but when asked whether her constituents might want to hear her view on the comments, Redmayne said “yeah, I’d agree they were racist comments”.

Asked whether it was okay for Peters to stay in Cabinet, Redmayne said “it’s not my Cabinet”.

Pugh said Peters’ remarks were “very ill conceived”.

Lu, asked about Peters’ comments said she believed they were racist.

Commerce Minister Cameron Brewer said “the Prime Minister has made clear, those comments were racist and we’ve just got to move on”.