Leader Winston Peters confirms Stuart Nash's resignation as a NZ First candidate as PM Christopher Luxon says Nash would not serve as a minister in a government he leads

Stuart Nash has resigned as a NZ First candidate following a text where he says his "words were open to an interpretation I never intended."

The text, sent to former National MP Chris Finlayson and read out on Finlayson's podcast, 'Cross Party Lines', said: "Comments like yours motivative me and drive me harder. Katie [Nimon] took nine months off on full pay, went back for a week, then took another month off. Laziest MP I’ve ever come across. Nice woman but ill suited to the rigours of being an electorate MP."

He was referring to National's Napier MP Katie Nimon who recently had a baby. Nash was planning to run against Nimon for the Napier seat in November's election.

The criticism was swift, Transport Minister Chris Bishop calling Nash a "sexist dickhead," Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden called the comments uncalled for and untrue.

"MPs don’t receive maternity leave, we do our jobs 24/7. I’m glad that Katie was supported to not fly to Wellington with a young child every week in those first months, but to focus on her family and her electorate work," van Velden said.

Speaking to Hawke's Bay Today, Nimon said: "I was kindly granted parliamentary leave, so I took six months away from being in Wellington, but I was away from work for about 10 weeks".

While away from Wellington, she said she was working in her electorate and took her baby with her. 

On Nash's comments, Nimon said: “I think the public can make their own decisions on how he feels about women. He’s made his position really clear."

'Sexist and wrong'

Labour leader Chris Hipkins on Thursday morning described the comments as "sexist and wrong" and highlighted why he removed Nash from Cabinet in 2023.

"He does not have the judgement or temperament to be a Minister. It is an indictment on both Winston Peters and Christopher Luxon that up until yesterday they thought he did," said Hipkins.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement that he was making it clear Nash would not serve as a minister in a government he leads.

"After several instances of poor behaviour, some politicians will claim he has changed. His lack of contrition after comments about one of my MPs’ maternity leave this evening shows he hasn’t."

That is in regards to Nash's previous comments on The Platform last year that a women is a person with “a p...y” and “t..s”.

NZ First leader Winston Peters, who is currently overseas as foreign minister, confirmed Nash had resigned with a brief message: "Stuart Nash has offered his resignation as a candidate and we have accepted."

About an hour after Peters, Nash posted on social media that he had withdrawn his candidacy.

"A private message I sent has become a significant distraction, and I don't want that distraction to cost NZ First or the people of Napier the campaign they deserve.

"As a husband and a father of four (including two strong, independent daughters) I have real respect for any working parent, and I regret that my words were open to an interpretation I never intended. I could have made my point far better."

Nash said the point he was trying to make was that Napier deserves an MP "who fights hard for this region, in the electorate and in Wellington".