New Zealand Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly has resigned following an incident where he placed his hand on a staff member’s upper arm last week, which he described as “overbearing” behavior. On Monday, Bayly expressed his apology for the incident, which he characterized as an “animated discussion” rather than an argument. Although Bayly has stepped down from his ministerial positions, he remains a member of Parliament. This resignation comes after his criticism in October for calling a winery worker a “loser” and using an expletive towards them.

In a statement, Bayly acknowledged his impatience to enact change in his ministerial roles, stating that he lets emotions get the better of him. He confirmed his resignation last Friday, a day after the incident occurred on Tuesday. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon praised the government’s swift response to the issue, calling it “pretty quick” and “pretty impressive.” However, Labour leader Chris Hipkins criticized Luxon for his handling of the situation, labeling him as “incredibly weak” for allowing the issue to drag over the weekend.

Bayly stated that he needed time to consult with his family and found it difficult to speak with the media earlier. Before entering politics, he worked in the finance industry and was first elected to the New Zealand Parliament in 2014. Bayly’s resignation marks the first instance of a minister voluntarily stepping down under Prime Minister Luxon, whose popularity has reached a record low, according to polls. The government has faced criticism for its perceived anti-Māori stance on certain policies.

Scott Simpson, the ruling National Party’s senior whip, will assume Bayly’s responsibilities as the Minister for ACC and the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce30l5497x2o