Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly has resigned after an incident involving inappropriate physical contact with staff, following previous controversies that have put pressure on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's administration.**
New Zealand Commerce Minister Steps Down Amid Controversial Incident**
New Zealand Commerce Minister Steps Down Amid Controversial Incident**
Andrew Bayly resigns after inappropriate contact with staff, marking the first ministerial departure in PM Luxon's government.**
New Zealand's Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly has announced his resignation following an incident in which he "placed a hand" on a staff member's upper arm during what he described as an "animated discussion" last week. Bayly acknowledges the act as "overbearing" and has expressed his deep remorse for the situation. Though he stepped down from his ministerial role, he remains a member of parliament.
Bayly's resignation, deemed effective last Friday, is significant as he is the first minister to resign of his own accord under Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's tenure. The incident occurred during a discussion about work, where Bayly admitted to crossing the line with physical contact. He faced criticism over his previous behavior, including an incident in which he called a winery employee a "loser" and made an unflattering gesture.
In a statement about the incident, Bayly mentioned, “I took the discussion too far… It was inappropriate.” His resignation has drawn mixed reactions, with Prime Minister Luxon stating that the government handled the situation swiftly. However, Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins criticized Luxon for his handling of the matter, calling it "incredibly weak" and expressing disappointment over the delay in resolution.
Bayly, who first entered Parliament in 2014 and has a background in finance, will now be succeeded by senior whip Scott Simpson, who will take over his responsibilities as the Minister for ACC and the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The incident adds to the challenges facing Luxon's government, which has seen a decline in public approval and faced scrutiny for policies perceived as unfavorable to the Māori community, including plans that many believe diminish Māori rights and dissolve previously established health authorities designed to improve disparities in healthcare.
