[ad_1]
Uffindell said he informed the party of the incident during the preselection process, though neither made the assault public.
Loading
Opposition Leader Chris Luxon did not comment on the incident on Monday, with the party instead issuing a two-sentence statement.
“The National Party was proactively informed about this incident by Sam Uffindell during the selection process,” it read.
“It was a significant event reflecting a serious error of judgment by a then 16-year-old for which he has apologised and regrets to this day.”
Asked for her opinion, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was for party leaders to answer for their MPs.
“Ultimately, the conduct of candidates or indeed, members of parliament, will be for the party’s leader and in this case, Christopher Luxon,” she said.
Ardern was asked if she experienced bullying during her younger years.
“There’s no question some of our young people in school have a horrific experience,” she said.
“I think everyone through the education system will have either witnessed or potentially experienced [bullying] themselves.
“We know actually there are some, particularly our rainbow community, who have a particularly difficult experience in their younger years.
“As political leaders, we have I think a duty of care […] to do everything we can to make sure that our education system is better than it was,” she said.
Ardern has crashed to her lowest personal rating of her prime ministership in a new poll that suggests her Labour party will head to the opposition benches after next year’s election.
On Monday night, TVNZ published the results of a new poll by outlet Kantar confirming Labour as underdogs ahead of the 2023 election.
Labour was on 33 per cent support, down two, which is its lowest level since 2017 when Ardern won power.
National was also down two, on 37 per cent support, but with a four-point boost to minor party ACT, on 11 per cent, the centre-right bloc would claim a majority in parliament.
“Kiwis are over this government and they want change,” Luxon told TVNZ.
“[They] understand this is a government that is not good with money and not good at managing the economy. They get that and they see that. It’s a big driver of what’s happening here.”
Ardern retains the lead as preferred prime minister, with 30 per cent nominating her over 22 per cent to Luxon, but her trend continues south.
She said the result was “a reflection of the times”.
“There’s absolutely no doubt increases in inflation are hurting New Zealanders. We have a responsibility as government to do what we can to support them through,” the prime minister said.
Loading
“New Zealand has advantage as well. I do look to those causes of optimism – low unemployment, low relative debt and the fact that we have our borders, tourism coming back. Those things will give a boost.”
Ardern remains steadfast that she will lead until the next poll, saying “as politicians, our job is to take us through the good times and the bad”.
While coalition governments are the norm in New Zealand, Labour currently boasts a parliamentary majority from a landslide win in 2020 at the height of Ardern’s COVID-crushing popularity.
On the current results, Labour’s 65 seats would fall to 44, but it would be able to reach a majority in the 120-seat house with likely coalition partners the Greens or the Maori Party.
AAP
[ad_2]
Source link