Bayly Resigns; Luxon Faces Criticism

New Zealand's Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Andrew Bayly, has resigned following an incident where he placed a hand on a staff member's arm during what he described as an 'animated discussion,' which he admitted was 'inappropriate.' Bayly, who remains an MP, expressed deep remorse and emphasized his impatience to drive change in his ministerial roles. This marks his second public apology for misconduct, following an incident where he called a worker a 'loser.' Prime Minister Christopher Luxon accepted Bayly's resignation, sparking criticism from Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who accused Luxon of weak leadership for not acting more swiftly. Luxon, who previously criticized the Labour government for slow responses to ministerial misconduct, now faces scrutiny over his handling of Bayly's resignation. The incident has led to a reshuffling of ministerial positions, with Scott Simpson taking over Bayly's former portfolios.