New Zealand minister resigns over inappropriate conduct with staff member

New Zealand’s Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly has stepped down from his ministerial position following an incident where he “placed a hand” on a staff member’s upper arm during what he described as an “animated discussion.” Bayly, who announced his resignation on Monday, apologized for his actions, acknowledging that his behavior was inappropriate. Despite resigning from his ministerial roles, he remains a member of parliament.

Bayly’s resignation comes amid scrutiny over past conduct, including a widely criticized incident in October when he called a winery worker a “loser,” making an ‘L’ shape with his fingers on his forehead, and allegedly using an expletive. He later issued a public apology for his actions.

In a statement addressing his resignation, Bayly admitted to being impatient in driving change within his ministerial portfolios. Reflecting on the recent incident, he stated that while it was not an argument, the discussion became too intense, and his physical gesture was unacceptable. A formal complaint was made about the incident, though Bayly declined to provide further details on the nature of the complaint.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed in a press conference that Bayly resigned last Friday, following an incident that occurred on February 18. Luxon defended the government’s handling of the situation, stating that the matter was resolved “pretty quickly” within a week.

He also dismissed claims that Bayly should have been forced to step down after the winery incident, maintaining that every situation is different and that “never say never” when asked whether Bayly could return to a cabinet position in the future. However, opposition leader Chris Hipkins strongly criticized Luxon’s response, calling it “incredibly weak.” Hipkins argued that allowing the situation to linger over the weekend reflected poor leadership and suggested that Luxon had set an extremely low standard for ministerial behavior.

Bayly, who has served in New Zealand’s Parliament since 2014 as a member of the ruling National Party, was appointed as Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, and Minister of Statistics after Luxon’s victory in the 2023 election. Earlier this year, he was also given the additional responsibility of overseeing the national accidental injury compensation scheme (ACC) in a cabinet reshuffle.

Following Bayly’s resignation, Scott Simpson, the National Party’s senior whip, has been assigned to take over the ACC and Commerce and Consumer Affairs portfolios.

Bayly’s resignation marks the first instance of a minister voluntarily stepping down under Luxon’s leadership. The timing is significant, as recent polls indicate a decline in public support for Luxon’s National-led coalition government. 

The government has faced backlash for policies that some perceive as anti-Māori, including the introduction of a bill that critics argue undermines Māori rights and the disbanding of the Māori Health Authority, which was established under the previous Labour government to address health disparities among Māori populations. These policy moves have sparked concerns among Māori leaders and opposition figures, further intensifying scrutiny of Luxon’s administration.

As Bayly steps away from his ministerial duties, his resignation raises questions about leadership accountability within the National Party and how Luxon’s government will navigate growing political pressures ahead of future elections.