A Minister of the New Zealand government said on Monday that he had resigned from his post for getting their hands on the top of a staff member during an “animated” discussion.
Andrew Bayly, the Minister of the La Commerce and Consumer Affairs, told journalists that his behavior towards the staff member had been “dominating”.
“For that, I’m deeply sorry,” he said.
“I took the discussion too far, and I placed a hand on the top of the arm, which was inappropriate.”
A complaint had been filed with regard to his behavior during last week’s incident, said the minister, refusing to give more details.
These are the second apology that Bayly offered to his ministerial conduct after his visit to a New Zealand company last October has become sour.
A worker wrote a letter of complaint at the time saying that the minister seemed to have drunk, sworn and called him a “loser” on several occasions, even by forming a “L” with his fingers on his forehead.
Bayly sent two apologies in response, saying he “read the moment” and meant his comments in “light”.
He reassured the worker: “I was not intoxicated when we met.”
Although he has dismissed his duties as minister of his last meeting, Bayly said that he would remain a member of the Parliament and is eager to serve his electorate.
The resignation comes as the Conservative government of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who took office in November 2023, sank into the ballot boxes with the voters affected by the increase in the cost of living.
Luxon said that the arm handling incident occurred on February 18 and that he had accepted Bayly’s resignation on Friday, delaying the announcement to give the minister time to speak to his family and staff.
“I think it was fairly quick to evolve as fast as we did during the week. It’s quite impressive,” he told journalists.
The New Zealand chief said Bayly told him that he thought his actions “are not well below the expectations he was faithful”.
Luxon said he appreciated that Bayly wanted to continue to be legislative and thanked her for doing “exceptional work” as minister.
When he was asked if Bayly could one day go back to a ministerial post, he told journalists: “Never say.”
Bayly was replaced as Minister of Commerce by Scott Simpson, who had been the main whip responsible for the party’s discipline in Parliament.
