Stuart Nash has resigned as a New Zealand First candidate after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon publicly ruled him out of serving as a minister in any government he leads.

NZ First leader Winston Peters announced the resignation in a short statement on his Facebook page on 22 July 2026. "Stuart Nash has offered his resignation as a candidate and we have accepted," Peters wrote. (RNZ)

The resignation came after Nash made comments about National's Napier MP, Katie Nimon. Nash called Nimon lazy for taking six months away from Parliament after having a baby. MPs from across Parliament condemned the remarks. (1News)

Luxon responded sharply. He called Nash's comments "sexist" and said Nash was channelling the "manosphere" — a term for online spaces known for anti-women views. He also said Nash showed a "lack of contrition." Rather than apologising, Nash chose not to. He said the campaign was about who "shows up and delivers" for Napier. (RNZ)

Luxon then made clear Nash would not serve as a minister. Ministers are the senior MPs who run government departments and make policy decisions. In a social media post, Luxon wrote: "Whether reports of Stuart Nash's resignation as a NZ First candidate are true or not, I am making clear he will not serve as a minister in my government." (NZ Herald)

When reporters asked Luxon whether Nash could still end up in Cabinet, he encouraged people to party vote National to avoid "numpties" from other parties. (RNZ)

Nash tried to push back. He said he had "real respect for any working parent raising a newborn alongside a demanding job" and that that was "never in question." He also pointed out he was part of a government that extended paid parental leave, and that the National Party voted against that change twice. (RNZ)

NZ First accepted the resignation after Luxon's ruling. (NZ Herald)

The order of events matters. In New Zealand's political system, a party like NZ First can choose its own candidates. But the Prime Minister decides who gets to be a minister. By blocking Nash before Peters had even confirmed the resignation, Luxon took away any chance NZ First had of arguing for Nash to come back. Peters accepted the resignation within hours.

For Nash, this closes a turbulent chapter. His comments about Nimon went beyond the usual back-and-forth of an election campaign. MPs generally avoid criticising colleagues for taking maternity leave, and Luxon's quick use of words like "sexist" left no room for NZ First to soften the situation.

Nash's attempt to shift the focus to his government's record on paid parental leave did not work. Luxon kept the focus on what Nash said and his refusal to apologise.

NZ First now has to decide who will carry the party's banner in Napier, if it plans to contest the seat. Peters' statement gave no detail beyond confirming Nash is gone.