Nash gone from cabinet but will stay in parliament to avoid by-election

Public Policy / news

Megan Woods and David Parker will take over Stuart Nash's ministerial roles after the Napier MP's dismissal

29th Mar 23, 10:32am by Dan Brunskill

Megan Woods, David Parker, and Meka Whaitiri will temporarily take over Stuart Nash’s ministerial responsibilities after the MP for Napier was booted from Cabinet on Monday night.

Nash was dismissed from all his portfolios last night after Stuff revealed he had emailed some donors details about private Cabinet discussions about commercial rent relief in March 2020.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the email he sent set out both his opposition to the decision reached and the position that other ministers took.

“Stuart Nash has fundamentally breached my trust and the trust of his Cabinet colleagues and his conduct is inexcusable.”

Two recipients of the email, Troy Bowker and Greg Loveridge, were both donors to Nash’s campaigns and commercial property owners with an interest in the decision.

Minister Megan Woods, number five on Labour’s party ranking, will take on the bulk of Nash’s workload as Acting Minister for Economic Development and Acting Minister of Forestry.

This is in addition to her existing responsibilities which include the housing, energy, and construction portfolios. She is also an Associate Minister of Finance.

Veteran minister David Parker will step in as Acting Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, while Meka Whaitiri , MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti a Māori electorate which includes the Hawke's Bay region, will lead the Hawke's Bay Cyclone response on an acting basis.

This means the Hawke's Bay Cyclone response will be led by a minister outside of cabinet, at least temporarily.

Bye-byelection

Stuart Nash has told media he will stay in parliament as the Napier MP until October in order to avoid a by-election, despite the National Party calling for him to step down immediately.

Former advertising executive Katie Nimon had already been selected as the party’s candidate to challenge Nash for the Napier seat. She currently works as the transport manager for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

Nash has held the Napier seat since winning it from National in 2014, despite the Labour Party losing the general election. He comfortably beat Nimon in 2020, with 51% of all votes to her 37% that year.

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72 Comments

by IT GUY | 29th Mar 23, 11:04am 1680041043

The wheels are falling off....

by Noncents | 29th Mar 23, 11:18am 1680041937

Yes, most of the issues were under the previous Leader.

How much more will come to light?

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 12:52pm 1680047558

Cue background music, Glenn Frey - “The Heat is On.”

by Grattaway | 29th Mar 23, 11:27am 1680042443

Just as well that they had a policy bonfire and dumped a lot of work as Chippy is rapidly running out of cabinet ministers with experience and skills (and I am not implying that Nash had either)

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 1:24pm 1680049484

... the Ardern government began 2018 looking like a Reliant Robin ... wobbling along on 3 wheels ... handling very badly , hard to keep a straight line ... taking a tumble around the corners ...

And now , one of the three wheels has fallen off !

by dumbthoughts | 29th Mar 23, 1:45pm 1680050716

Speaking of Reliant Robins, the current government is starting to look about as hooky as Del Boy and the genuine made in China antiques he used to flog out the back of his three wheel van.

by Nzdan | 29th Mar 23, 3:34pm 1680057244

This animated GIF reflects Labour from 2017 to today (keeping in the Reliant Robin theme):

https://media.tenor.com/ZBoMPCQvWrgAAAAd/race-robin.gif

by nzforall | 29th Mar 23, 6:17pm 1680067076

The wheels fell off many years ago my friend. But even Nationals list of labours fails has disappeared. I think they stuffed up health first.

by nktokyo | 29th Mar 23, 11:44am 1680043488

The guy is a loose cannon. I was hoping he would last a bit longer and explode instead of getting the boot but oh well.

by Shaft | 29th Mar 23, 11:59am 1680044392

What other job can you stuff up badly, compromise your organisations integrity, lose all your responsibilities, and stiĺl stay employed on full wages for 8 months , doing nothing.

They should be unpaid and return to their electorate and front the voters

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 2:09pm 1680052166

... d'yer reckon Nashi will be a good boy & sit quietly in the back row between now and October 14 ...

He'll be breathing belligerent down the back of Hipkins neck ... " I know where you live ... I know what keeps you awake at night .... ssssss ... I know where the skeletons are ! " ...

by Noncents | 29th Mar 23, 4:12pm 1680059572

I don't think he has to get to October does he? Isn't there a grace period before an election? where if an MP leaves you just hang tight until election day.

by JamesM | 29th Mar 23, 11:49am 1680043768

So which of his 'donors' leaked the email?

Given that Greg Loveridge is a former speech writer for the Labour Party I doubt it was him.

My guess is Troy Bowker isn't keen on Labour getting back in..........

by Essen | 29th Mar 23, 11:54am 1680044069

It could be an internal hit job - the sender and recipients aren’t the only people that may have known about this and there could be more, worse things out there.

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 3:49pm 1680058183

Newshub report that the emails found their way to PM Ardern’s office but the PM herself was never actually informed. That’s the beauty of a thick cordon of censors and protectors, the three monkeys maxim, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

by kiwikidsnz | 29th Mar 23, 5:51pm 1680065463

The old "Plausible deniability"

by Shaft | 29th Mar 23, 11:53am 1680044012

I would'nt mind a bi election.

Spending another few million on " a great precurser " to the election inorder to get a feel for the main event seems more exciting than anything else on TV / radio.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 1:16pm 1680048996

ssssssshhhhhh ! .... don't say " bi election " ... Posie Parker will misinterpret that completely , and be back here protesting that only heterosexuals should be elected ....

by WellingtonInvestor | 29th Mar 23, 2:57pm 1680055070

Any speding on a by elelction just gets spent through the economy. As long as they don't spend it on advertising that goes to overseas companies, isn't it a good thing? IMO it isn't good to use the cost as a justification not to have a by-election, if that is what is needed, as we do live in a democracy.

by Von Metternich | 29th Mar 23, 11:57am 1680044232

Petition for Marama Davidson to resign for her antiwhite comments. About 2400 signatures now.

https://www.change.org/p/remove-marama-davidson-as-minister-for-the-pre…

by kiwichas | 29th Mar 23, 12:28pm 1680046118

She sure showed her true racist misandric colours during a violent protest against that Aussie twit, giving the Aussie the publicity she craved.Ashamed that she's still an MP.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 1:08pm 1680048538

British twat , " PP " is a little known shit stirrer from the UK ... a harmless lady , with some reasonable view points , and some daft ones too ...

by kiwichas | 29th Mar 23, 2:43pm 1680054222

mea culpa, didn't read it too closely in case it was catching, won't be long till the Aussies claim her??

by solardb | 29th Mar 23, 6:40pm 1680068405

ya think she flew all the way to NZ to just talk about womens rights to use a toilet ???. Gullible Gummy.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 1:06pm 1680048386

2401 , now ! ... if she just said a simple " sorry " , we could all move on ... but no ...

... you do wonder what her hubby thinks ... a very white looking sis guy ...

by Yvil | 29th Mar 23, 2:43pm 1680054224

2402

by kiwikidsnz | 29th Mar 23, 5:52pm 1680065539

"...sis guy" ?

by Slapheid | 29th Mar 23, 12:41pm 1680046900

Maybe I'm being cynical, but I assumed that people/groups bankrolled political campaigns with the expectation of receiving inside knowledge and/or favorable decisions.

Was Stuart Nash's real crime recording it in emails?

by solardb | 29th Mar 23, 6:37pm 1680068277

I find Seymour' muted response interesting , perhaps they should look further afeild than just labour MP's on this score.

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 7:16pm 1680070610

What gets me, and this applies to all sides of the house, past and present, that our MPs are entrusted with the very serious responsibility to legislate. As such they pass laws purposed to remove and/or expose corruption in political party donations, and then with obscene haste, set about in earnest to circumvent or defeat that very same law. It’s a rotten state of affairs, the whole damn lot of those that involve themselves, suck.

by solardb | 30th Mar 23, 11:31am 1680129065

yes and no . In business or any other organisation , everyone knows and expects the real talking and negoiating goes on behind the scenes , often at the bar or restaurantAre we holding politicans to too high a standard ?.Perhaps if we allowed dissenting voices in cabinet to be heard(which seem to be is biggest crime) , we might get better decisions made.

And really , how can you be minister of the police without having the ear of top police brass? So long as you don't penalise or offer sweetners with your view , what's the problem ? Surely a parties politics on crimes is well publicised , so why can't a politicans be ?

Having said that , I think he did cross the line with the latest rent related one. .

by Foxglove. | 30th Mar 23, 1:50pm 1680137442

Hard to imagine in the history of our parliament that any of Mr Nash’s actions would be unique. As well I would wager that his thoughts on the police & court matters would mostly get head nods at pub and table talk all over NZ. The thing is though, things have changed. For example the proliferation of high speed email etc communication has put more accent on convenience than thought process. If in the old days Mr Nash had had to sit down and pen, even dictate, a letter he may well have had a moment’s opportunity to reconsider either that action or its contents or both. These days the vast amount of data being communicated electronically is a real loitering with intent foot trip compared to the old days. Just ask the Royal Family or both the Clintons for example.

by solardb | 30th Mar 23, 6:42pm 1680154939

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/03/30/most-stupid-thing-ive-seen-simon-bri…

Bridges pretty much saying it happens all the time , just don't get caught by putting it in a email.

by Wrong John | 29th Mar 23, 12:51pm 1680047471

There was very little in the pot when they began 5 and a half years ago. Today we are all witness to the truth of that. And what's even worse is there is still 6 months to go. There'll be no one left in the cabinet by then.

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 12:55pm 1680047752

The facade of the charade is definitely cracking and what is being revealed is a rather sorry looking outfit indeed.

by kiwichas | 29th Mar 23, 2:45pm 1680054357

the charade of a facade just cracks you up....sorry...

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 1:57pm 1680051476

At the rate they're going there'll just be PM Chippy and Minister of Everything all a Once , Megan Woods , left ...

by JamesM | 29th Mar 23, 5:35pm 1680064518

The fat controller will still be lurking in the background.

by Yvil | 29th Mar 23, 1:06pm 1680048371

It seems a change of leader several months before an election (such as for Hipkins or English) is not a good idea. There is too much time for the original honeymoon period of a month or two, to be killed by reality and gaffes. A change of leader much closer to an election, such as when Ardern took over from Little, is far better, as the hope for a better future doesn't have time to be tainted by the realities of delivering on the promises made.

by Contrarian | 29th Mar 23, 1:05pm 1680048347

If Chris calls a snap General Election, Labour will win. Thus he can avoid several by-elections and have a new cabinet to boot.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 1:12pm 1680048747

.. governments who call for snap elections can be punished by an annoyed , belligerent electorate ... Muldoon here in NZ , Theresa May in the UK ...

High risk strategy methinks ...

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 2:05pm 1680051901

Does anyone with a serious thought in their head consider that Labour, all at odds and a house divided, could form a stable government with the Greens & TPM, with all their wackiness and extremes flying off the wheel, sitting alongside and actually having ministers in cabinet. Hell each party can’t live with itself, let alone each other. It’s a shambles now, who in their right mind, would want to treble that.

by The Person | 29th Mar 23, 2:56pm 1680054998

Does anyone with a serious thought in their head consider that National, all at odds and a house divided, could form a stable government with the ACT & TPM, with all their wackiness and extremes flying off the wheel, sitting alongside and actually having ministers in cabinet

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 3:37pm 1680057478

Which leads then, to Mr Trotter’s summation here some weeks back, that it will come down to a vote for the least worst. On that basis the National side looks somewhat ahead in that their odds at present look under a reasonable degree of control and they wouldn’t be counting at all on TPM, both parties have made that abundantly clear often enough, one would think.

by HSL | 29th Mar 23, 5:18pm 1680063507

As much as I am not the biggest fan of Luxon, I think he would be ok as PM. The thought of a boring conservative PM that follows democratic principles is quite appealing.

by kiwikidsnz | 29th Mar 23, 5:53pm 1680065593

Just for a change...

by nigelh | 29th Mar 23, 4:03pm 1680059025

The same strategy as per the previous general election. Vote for us, Labour, to keep the green wackos at bay?

I think that might just start to creep in if not already started by Hipkins not keeping the Greens informed on ditching lower level emissions projects.

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 4:27pm 1680060425

If that did happen to any great degree a lot of it was rural based.,That will definitely not happen again and the same sentiment to keep the Greens out at all costs, would be a surer bet with National. Don’t forget that last time National had self destructed, were in an even more woeful state than Labour at present. But if Hipkins should think to more distinctly distance Labour from the Greens then he should promptly sack Davidson. That would certainly do it, for either side.

by gnx | 30th Mar 23, 10:13am 1680124393

And you think National is any better.

Listen to this guy. The country needs massive investment into export industries or we will go broke, not worrying about speeds bumps.

They just won’t let go of running an immigration lead housing ponzi.

He has never worked a day in his life to earn a dollar,straight off to parliament from uni.

watch this video and tell me we are good hands with national. When he talks of productivity and competition does he have any clue what he’s talking about?

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paul-goldsmith-07b19380_enough-of-labour…

by Snow | 29th Mar 23, 1:28pm 1680049688

and have a new cabinet to boot.

Nice double entendre.

by printer8 | 29th Mar 23, 1:47pm 1680050864

As an aside; Nash has promoted the mantle - and is often stated - that he is Sir Walter Nash’s great grandson (such as when he initially contested the nomination for the Napier seat in 2008).

Nash was adopted and he was two years old when Sir Walter died; so there is nothing relevant in a hereditary / genetic implication, nor any benefit in association with Sir Walter. (But, yes, he is legally Sir Walter’s great grandson)

(No problem if you want to fact check this)

by Whatwillhappen | 29th Mar 23, 1:40pm 1680050439

Fact check - it's great grandson.

The rest is public record from the man himself.

by printer8 | 29th Mar 23, 1:46pm 1680050774

Yes; great grandson. Corrected.

by HouseMouse | 29th Mar 23, 6:47pm 1680068848

That's a pretty narrow view. Just because a grandparent or great grandparent dies when a child is young doesn't mean there cannot be some kind of awareness of legacy instilled, as part of family 'folklore' if you like. Although all things being equal it's certainly not usually likely to be as significant as if some kind of relationship had been established.

I never met my great grandfather but I am certainly quite aware of, and respectful of, his notable achievements.

by dumbthoughts | 29th Mar 23, 1:46pm 1680050771

Police Commissioner Coster is now saying that there could have been other not-meant-to-have-happened calls with Nash.

I wonder if he will be gone by dinnertime as well?

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 1:58pm 1680051514

Doesn’t matter he will stagger on until 14/4 to avoid the bi election. Precedent with the ex PM, now just MP for Mt Albert, who believe has not been in parliament at all this year.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 29th Mar 23, 2:01pm 1680051716

. . busy at Womans Weekly doing an extended photo shoot , apparently ...

by dumbthoughts | 29th Mar 23, 2:15pm 1680052552

I was referring to Cuddles Coster getting the boot - as he seems to have had 'selective amnesia' with respective to which phone calls took place when.

by solardb | 29th Mar 23, 6:44pm 1680068661

He didn't say that they were phone calls that wern't meant to happen , just that they were other phone calls. Presumably , A minister has to converse with the police commisioner to do their job correctly.

by Foxglove. | 29th Mar 23, 8:43pm 1680075799

“Police Commissioner alludes to examples of further attempts by Stuart Nash to influence him.” Headline in Newstalk ZB. If you prefer not to read it, then listen to the man himself.

by Dale Smith | 29th Mar 23, 2:08pm 1680052122

Marama Davidson says white cis men are responsible for violence, nek minit a white cis man gets kicked out of cabinet.

Coincidence....?

by solardb | 29th Mar 23, 6:45pm 1680068709

no connection at all.

by WellingtonInvestor | 29th Mar 23, 2:36pm 1680053816

Why don't they bring someone else in to take of the portfolios,? Dividing portfolios to ministers who are already bogged down with portfolios is not a good look IMO. Or is it a sign they don't have anyone capable?

by nktokyo | 29th Mar 23, 3:35pm 1680057340

Labour is about to enjoy a Jamie Lee Ross moment in an election year.

by Shaft | 29th Mar 23, 4:34pm 1680060855

If the next poll shows Labour and the Greens have maintained thier % rating I would see no future in this country and will see a better future in the west Island.....

After all, if they maintain support after this debacle it will confirm that NZ is full of Crazy Leftie loonies!

by HSL | 29th Mar 23, 5:23pm 1680063839

I’m with you there. Started the job search already. Ideally I would wait a few years but at the rate of decline of this country I might go before getting a job! Labour / Greens and Maori are that bad.

by kiwikidsnz | 29th Mar 23, 5:54pm 1680065699

I'm visiting family in Oz July, planning to open a new bank account there - just in cade

by HSL | 29th Mar 23, 6:00pm 1680066028

Great idea if they will let you with no proof of address. I think it’s wise to start saving in aus dollars as a labour green govt will tank the dollar

by kiwikidsnz | 29th Mar 23, 6:30pm 1680067820

I already checked with bank, ok to use my family's Oz address however I also understand that they're ok if you're intending to be a regular visitor.

by HouseMouse | 29th Mar 23, 6:39pm 1680068358

His hair color in the cartoon needs a big update

by Stuart Mason | 30th Mar 23, 8:51am 1680119466

Nashi could become the new logo if things continue to go pear shaped.

Sorry - a bit Christmas Cracker.

by philthy | 30th Mar 23, 11:37am 1680129431

It can't be to save money on a byelection, since when did this government care about wasting money?

More like to save embarrassment.