Inside the Capital: 'Sexist' texts, shag jokes, tariff shocks - what happened in Parliament this week?

The political week started messy with a flurry of eyebrow raising language sweeping through Parliament, and it ended messy with a Trump blame game developing into a 12.5% tariff. 

Interpretations and interesting language

Former Labour Minister Stuart Nash handed in his resignation this week as NZ First candidate for Napier after sending a text message to former National MP Chris Finlayson which said Napier electorate MP 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."

While Nash insisted it was not interpreted as intended, it did not go down well. PM Christopher Luxon ruled Nash out as a Minister in any future government he leads, Transport Minister Chris Bishop called Nash a "sexist dickhead" and bleary eyed reporters opened an early 6.28am message from Labour with leader Chris Hipkins' interesting comment on the matter.

It was a lengthy statement containing: "Christopher Luxon is very selective in the way he seems to approach standards of ministerial conduct."

"He's right that Stuart Nash's outburst was unacceptable, but so was Shane Jones' insinuations about him performing oral sex on a visiting foreign leader [to note - Jones has denied this and said he was referring to bowing down], Winston Peters making masterbation jibes live on TV..."

NZ First leader Peters, who is currently overseas as foreign minister, had confirmed the previous night Nash had resigned and they had accepted his resignation.

More interpretations

Then, new ACT candidate Paul Henry played a game of 'shoot, shag, marry' on Radio Hauraki, in which he said he would shoot Hipkins and shag Winston Peters. It was criticised by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall - "We can't just let death threats go in our political conversation," she said on ZB. Threats to politicians have increased in recent years. 

Bishop, asked about the comments, said, "look, we've all played that game, flat parties in our 20s, maybe after a couple or too many drinks. It's obviously not literal. It's a game, as I think most people know."

"It's a bit weird for a guy in his 60s to be playing it on Hauraki, but you know, that's over to Paul."

Asked if Hipkins or Peters came out of the game better, Bishop said, "I'm not going to get into that. I'm a family man in my 40s now, not a young whippersnapper 20-year-old after too many drinks."

The Trump spike

Then there was the inflation blame game. Finance Minister Nicola Willis earlier in the week describing Statistics NZ's Consumers Price Index (CPI), increase to 4.1% as a result of a "Trump spike" caused by petrol price rises which accounted for almost a quarter of the increase. If petrol and diesel prices had not changed, the CPI would have increased 2.9% in the year to June, Stats NZ said.

But Labour said Willis can't just blame Trump. Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds asked what about rates increases, power increases and food price increases, while Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick blamed exposure to volatile fossil fuels for driving up inflation.

One area Trump is definitely to blame for is the confirmation on Friday that the US will impose an increased 12.5% tariff on New Zealand goods.

US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer announced the US will impose tariffs on 60 economies; “for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labor.” [New Zealand has said it is not credible that forced labour plays a role in New Zealand exports].

What's coming up

Over the weekend, the Green Party is holding its annual AGM where new policies are expected to be released. Our political reporter Mandy Te will be covering this.

The Green Party AGMs are generally one of the most closed off political party events, with media usually only invited to leadership speeches and a media conference. It is a stark contrast to the NZ First convention which was held earlier this month, where media has roaming freedom coming out of its ears with hours of remit sessions, guest speakers and even the dinner open to media, with only a half hour session over the two days closed off.

And next week, prepare for another week of dramatic politics as the House sits, politicians puff chests out and the election campaign starts rumbling.

Interest.co.nz will be interviewing Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong - so let us know any burning questions you have for the party leader.