September 11, 2025 • 5 mins
Former Labour Cabinet Minister turned NZ First supporter, Stuart Nash, has quit his job after a comment about women.
RNZ reports Nash has resigned from recruitment firm Robert Walters, after a remark about womens' bodies on the Platform.
The agency launched a formal review over the comments, which it said were made in a personal capacity, and were deeply inappropriate and didn't reflect the values or standards of the business.
NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says Nash's comments are likely to negatively effect his chances within NZ First, given leader Winston Peters isn't a fan of bad language.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right, it's fourteen away from five, and just reminder, I'm
going to run you through what happened according to that
police communications on the night of the Tom Phillips shooting.
But with us right now we have Thomas Coglan, the
Herald's Political edit, A high.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Thomas here, a good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Now, Yeah, Stuart Nash has quit his job because of
what he said. How's this going to affect his future
at New Zealand?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
First, well, very interesting question. It is obviously not a
great look. It's interesting. Obviously, Winston Peters has a long
and colorful history in New Zealand politics, but one of
the things he doesn't like is bad language, particularly bad
language in this in this sort of area. Obviously, I
think you can go through the handsard and find a
number of things that Winston said that probably would wouldn't
(00:40):
pass the sniff test these days. But it's certainly that
this sort of language is not really what Winston Peter's likes.
So so I think it would it would negatively, I
mean clearly, it negatively affects, affects his chances and that
in that area. Then again, there's always a way back,
like Winston Peter's in New Zealand First are famous for
second chances in terms of political candidates, and they do
(01:02):
tend to attract rough around the edges sort of candidates. Now,
I think this is probably a bit rougher around the
edges than perhaps they have an appetite for. But it
certainly wouldn't rule it out forever.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Can you think of anything more crass that you've ever
heard in New Zealand politicians.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Say no, let them say right in the meaning and
it does speak to a complete lack of judgment. It
is it is. My jaw hit the floor when I
heard it. I couldn't believe it. So, you know, look
with New Zealand First, the general rule of fun with
New Zealand First doesn't never say never. But clearly you know,
(01:38):
Stuart Nash's chances took a massive denting.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean the problem for him is that he
was on a kind of probation and almost in a
weird way, New Zealand First had got out of Stuart.
Really the thing that they wanted, right, which is the
endorsement at the conference.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well exactly, and it is you know, it is a
wee bit crowded at the top there, like obviously Winston
Peters is New Zealand first, and then the ear apparent
is Shane Jones. And and and you've I've always wondered
with New Zealand first, the party doesn't tend to function
well when there are a couple of years apparent. And
and you know, there's that that famous tension between Tracy
(02:13):
Martin and Ron Mark who who famously sort of didn't
really get on and I think sometimes refused to share
a car together. That there was, there's that sort of issue.
So obviously if Stuart Nash did become an MP, then
he would he would be in the mix for for
taking over if if if, if, if that that role
ever became vacant. And and you know, I'm not sure
(02:35):
whether the party really wants that instability again.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, that's a fair point. Now, what's been going on
with the Marti Party? Has it been a little shuffle
going on?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Interesting one. Usually usually this is announced the press release,
but the Parliament website has updated the profiles of Debbie Nardi,
the Pecker and Mariamino Kapa King. So mariamno was the
was the whip for the party for some time. That
is now no longer her role as of the ninth
(03:02):
of Septembers that was only a couple of days ago.
That role has transferred to Debi Nardi Wapaka again. As
of the ninth of September, no one knows what's going on.
Requests have been made of the party. We haven't heard
back and as as usual that the party, Mary didn't
come across the bridge today the co leaders went in
the house. That I can see that very I can't
(03:26):
say never, but I would say almost never.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Close enough on, here is something weird going on in
the party because you now have so you have a
removal of quite a senior job from I will note
the mother of the protest organizer, and then you've got
another MP who is busy going apparently rogue an eight
minute long midnight video. Is this something up?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yes, well, I probably would connect those two things. I
mean that they are a bit of a black box party, Mardy.
You just don't know what's going on inside inside the
party in the way that you do with some of
the other parties. And it does seem like Takuta Ferris
has gone to weave it rogue. And it does when
you look at ahearn and RAFTI might be clarcted in
an interview the other day she's sort of distanced herself
from Taku to Ferris, and the co leaders have been
(04:11):
distancing themselves from him a wee. But I do wonder
whether there's a disciplinary thing that's probably probably looming for
him in the wake of these comments, and whether that
results in a bit of a reshuffle. That could very
well be the thing. And frustratingly, you know, everyone's having
to pieces together from whispers and snippets that that appear
in the media because the party is not really front
footing and being transparent about what's going on.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah, well, what a surprise, Thomas, thanks very much, appreciate it.
Thomas Coglan, The Herald's political letter to By the way,
Barries not here. Berries had been called away for dad duties. Also,
if you're wondering what it is that Stuart Nash said,
I'm going to give you a warning that I'm going
to tell you in about half an hour. So just
if you if you're sensitive to crass language, going to
(04:53):
want to, like, you know, have a Gin and tonic
or something, get yourself rid. For more from Heather Duplessy
Allen Drive Listen Live to News Talks. It'd be from
four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
Right, it's fourteen away from five, and just reminder, I'm
going to run you through what happened according to that
police communications on the night of the Tom Phillips shooting.
But with us right now we have Thomas Coglan, the
Herald's Political edit, A high.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Thomas here, a good afternoon.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Now, Yeah, Stuart Nash has quit his job because of
what he said. How's this going to affect his future
at New Zealand?
Speaker 2 (00:18):
First, well, very interesting question. It is obviously not a
great look. It's interesting. Obviously, Winston Peters has a long
and colorful history in New Zealand politics, but one of
the things he doesn't like is bad language, particularly bad
language in this in this sort of area. Obviously, I
think you can go through the handsard and find a
number of things that Winston said that probably would wouldn't
(00:40):
pass the sniff test these days. But it's certainly that
this sort of language is not really what Winston Peter's likes.
So so I think it would it would negatively, I
mean clearly, it negatively affects, affects his chances and that
in that area. Then again, there's always a way back,
like Winston Peter's in New Zealand First are famous for
second chances in terms of political candidates, and they do
(01:02):
tend to attract rough around the edges sort of candidates. Now,
I think this is probably a bit rougher around the
edges than perhaps they have an appetite for. But it
certainly wouldn't rule it out forever.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Can you think of anything more crass that you've ever
heard in New Zealand politicians.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Say no, let them say right in the meaning and
it does speak to a complete lack of judgment. It
is it is. My jaw hit the floor when I
heard it. I couldn't believe it. So, you know, look
with New Zealand First, the general rule of fun with
New Zealand First doesn't never say never. But clearly you know,
(01:38):
Stuart Nash's chances took a massive denting.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, I mean the problem for him is that he
was on a kind of probation and almost in a
weird way, New Zealand First had got out of Stuart.
Really the thing that they wanted, right, which is the
endorsement at the conference.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well exactly, and it is you know, it is a
wee bit crowded at the top there, like obviously Winston
Peters is New Zealand first, and then the ear apparent
is Shane Jones. And and and you've I've always wondered
with New Zealand first, the party doesn't tend to function
well when there are a couple of years apparent. And
and you know, there's that that famous tension between Tracy
(02:13):
Martin and Ron Mark who who famously sort of didn't
really get on and I think sometimes refused to share
a car together. That there was, there's that sort of issue.
So obviously if Stuart Nash did become an MP, then
he would he would be in the mix for for
taking over if if if, if, if that that role
ever became vacant. And and you know, I'm not sure
(02:35):
whether the party really wants that instability again.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, that's a fair point. Now, what's been going on
with the Marti Party? Has it been a little shuffle
going on?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Interesting one. Usually usually this is announced the press release,
but the Parliament website has updated the profiles of Debbie Nardi,
the Pecker and Mariamino Kapa King. So mariamno was the
was the whip for the party for some time. That
is now no longer her role as of the ninth
(03:02):
of Septembers that was only a couple of days ago.
That role has transferred to Debi Nardi Wapaka again. As
of the ninth of September, no one knows what's going on.
Requests have been made of the party. We haven't heard
back and as as usual that the party, Mary didn't
come across the bridge today the co leaders went in
the house. That I can see that very I can't
(03:26):
say never, but I would say almost never.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Close enough on, here is something weird going on in
the party because you now have so you have a
removal of quite a senior job from I will note
the mother of the protest organizer, and then you've got
another MP who is busy going apparently rogue an eight
minute long midnight video. Is this something up?
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Yes, well, I probably would connect those two things. I
mean that they are a bit of a black box party, Mardy.
You just don't know what's going on inside inside the
party in the way that you do with some of
the other parties. And it does seem like Takuta Ferris
has gone to weave it rogue. And it does when
you look at ahearn and RAFTI might be clarcted in
an interview the other day she's sort of distanced herself
from Taku to Ferris, and the co leaders have been
(04:11):
distancing themselves from him a wee. But I do wonder
whether there's a disciplinary thing that's probably probably looming for
him in the wake of these comments, and whether that
results in a bit of a reshuffle. That could very
well be the thing. And frustratingly, you know, everyone's having
to pieces together from whispers and snippets that that appear
in the media because the party is not really front
footing and being transparent about what's going on.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Yeah, well, what a surprise, Thomas, thanks very much, appreciate it.
Thomas Coglan, The Herald's political letter to By the way,
Barries not here. Berries had been called away for dad duties. Also,
if you're wondering what it is that Stuart Nash said,
I'm going to give you a warning that I'm going
to tell you in about half an hour. So just
if you if you're sensitive to crass language, going to
(04:53):
want to, like, you know, have a Gin and tonic
or something, get yourself rid. For more from Heather Duplessy
Allen Drive Listen Live to News Talks. It'd be from
four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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