Auckland, New Zealand – New Zealand’s Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly has stepped down from his ministerial positions following a complaint regarding what he described as an “animated discussion” with a staff member. The incident, which took place on February 18, involved Bayly placing a hand on the staffer’s arm, an action he later admitted was “overbearing” and “inappropriate.”
The Incident and Bayly’s Response
In a statement, Bayly expressed regret over his actions, acknowledging that his behavior had been unacceptable.
“I am deeply sorry,” he said. “I have been impatient to drive change in my ministerial portfolios. Last week, I had an animated discussion with a staff member about work. I took the discussion too far, and I placed a hand on their upper arm, which was inappropriate.”
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Bayly emphasized that while the discussion was “lively,” he did not apply force when touching the staffer’s arm. He insisted that he had never encountered a similar situation before and had decided to take responsibility for his actions.
Despite resigning from his ministerial roles, Bayly will continue as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Port Waikato.
Why the Resignation Was Delayed
Bayly handed in his resignation to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Friday night, but the decision was only made public on Monday. He explained that he needed time to process the situation and inform his family.
“To be honest, I would have had difficulty doing this interview over the last couple of days. I’ve had to talk to my family, and that’s why I’ve made the decision and why we’re announcing it today,” Bayly said at a brief press conference in Auckland.
Bayly reaffirmed that he was taking full responsibility for his actions, adding, “It is what it is… this is my decision, and I think it’s important sometimes to reflect about your own activities.”
Previous Controversy Involving Bayly
This is not the first time Bayly has been criticized for his conduct. In October, he was forced to apologize after reportedly calling a worker a “loser” multiple times during a site visit for his former small business portfolio.
According to the worker’s complaint, Bayly questioned why they were still working and allegedly told them to “take a bottle of wine and go home … take some wine and f*** off.” He then proceeded to form an ‘L’ shape on his forehead with his fingers while calling the worker a “loser” in front of colleagues, including his assistant, marketing staff, and other employees.
Prime Minister Luxon’s Response
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon accepted Bayly’s resignation, stating that the MP had acknowledged falling short of the expectations set for government ministers.
“A minister’s conduct must meet high standards. Mr. Bayly indicated his actions fell short of the expectations he set himself, and that are expected of ministers. As such, he has offered his resignation as a minister, which I have accepted,” Luxon said.
Luxon thanked Bayly for his contributions to his portfolios and appointed Scott Simpson as the new Minister for ACC and Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
Criticism Over the Timeline of Resignation
The six-day gap between the incident and the public announcement of Bayly’s resignation has drawn criticism, particularly from the Opposition.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins argued that Prime Minister Luxon should have acted more swiftly, rather than allowing Bayly to resign on his own terms.
“Christopher Luxon has once again set the bar for ministerial behavior so low that it would be almost impossible to get over it,” Hipkins said.
“In this case, we’ve now got ministers sacking themselves when the Prime Minister should have shown leadership and done that months ago.”
Luxon Defends Process
Luxon defended the handling of the situation, insisting that the response had been timely and appropriate.
“I wanted him to have Saturday and Sunday to inform his family and also other impacted staff, and then we’ve come today and obviously announced the resignation today,” Luxon said.
“I just say to you all, I think that’s been pretty quick to move as fast as we have within the week—it’s pretty impressive.”
Luxon refused to provide further details about the incident, stating, “I think he’s outlined the incident in his own statement, and I’m not going to add to that.”
Could Bayly Return to a Ministerial Role?
When asked if Bayly might return as a minister in the future, Luxon did not rule out the possibility.
“Never say never,” he said, while also acknowledging that Bayly had done an “exceptionally good job” in his ministerial portfolios.
Political Ramifications
Bayly’s resignation is a setback for the National Party, which has been working to establish stability under Luxon’s leadership. With public scrutiny increasing over ministerial conduct, this incident has put further pressure on the government to uphold transparency and accountability.
As the political fallout continues, attention will shift to how Bayly operates as a backbencher and whether any further allegations surface in the coming weeks.
For now, the government will look to move past this controversy and refocus on key policy issues while the Opposition continues to push for greater ministerial accountability.
