New Zealand minister quits after putting hand on staffer s arm

WELLINGTON – A New Zealand government minister said on Feb 24 that he has resigned from his post for putting his hand on a staff member’s upper arm during an “animated” discussion.

Mr Andrew Bayly, the country’s minister for commerce and consumer affairs, told reporters that his behaviour towards the staff member had been “overbearing”.

He said: “For that, I am deeply sorry.

“I took the discussion too far, and I placed a hand on their upper arm, which was inappropriate.”

A complaint had been lodged about his behaviour in last week’s incident, the minister said, declining to give further details.

It is the second apology Mr Bayly has offered for his ministerial conduct after his visit to a New Zealand business in October 2024 turned sour.

A worker wrote a letter of complaint at the time saying the minister appeared to have been drinking, swore and called him a “loser” repeatedly, even forming an “L” with his fingers on his forehead.

Mr Bayly sent two apologies in reply, saying he “misread the moment” and meant his comments in a “light-hearted manner”.

He reassured the worker: “I was not intoxicated when we met.”

Despite stepping down as a minister for his latest encounter, Mr Bayly said he would remain an MP and looked forward to serving his electorate.

The resignation comes as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s conservative government, which took office in November 2023, sags in the polls with voters hit by the rising cost of living.

Mr Luxon said the arm-handling incident happened on Feb 18, and he had accepted Mr Bayly’s resignation on Feb 21, delaying the announcement to give the minister time to speak to his family and staff.

“I think that’s been pretty quick to move as fast as we have within the week. It’s pretty