Michael Laws apologises for remarks about Opportunity candidates
NZ First candidate Michael Laws has apologised for comments he made about female candidates from The Opportunity Party, hours after defending them on air. 1News reported the apology, and NZ Herald reported that it was unreserved.
Laws is a former MP and broadcaster and is NZ First's candidate for the Waitaki electorate. He made personal remarks about Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong and candidate Kayla Kingdon-Bebb. When the remarks were put to him on air, he said: "If I've offended you this morning, you deserve to be offended."
NZ First leader Winston Peters described Laws' comments about Wong and Kingdon-Bebb as "unacceptable". NZ Herald reported that Peters told Laws off for sexist comments. Speaking on The Platform, Peters said Laws "made a bit of a silly mistake" and "used some silly words he's never used before".
After Peters' criticism, Laws said he did not intend to cause offence and that he had been "wry and puckish". 1News reported that Laws faced criticism from all sides over his comments about Kingdon-Bebb. He then issued his apology.
Laws was elected Mayor of Whanganui in 2004 and re-elected in 2007. He also served three terms on the district health board, according to NZ First's announcement of his candidacy.
An RNZ analysis said Laws' views on women are not shared by Peters, and that they might be shared in the circles Laws moves in. The same analysis noted that Peters cut ties with former NZ First candidate Stuart Nash after Nash's disrespectful comments toward National MP Katie Nimon and women in general.
