‘No recollection of using anything other than my fists’, says NZ MP apologising to bashing victim
Wellington: New Zealand’s opposition National party is standing by its newest MP Sam Uffindell after revelations he was expelled from a prestigious high school more than two decades ago for viciously beating a younger student.
Uffindell, 38, was elected to parliament in a June by-election for the safe seat of Tauranga.
On Monday, NZ news outlet Stuff reported that in 1999, Uffindell – then 16 – beat up a 13-year-old as part of a group attack at Auckland’s Kings College. It left the victim bruised and nursing significant trauma.
National’s Sam Uffindell was elected as MP for Tauranga in the June by-election.Credit:Kelly Hodel/Stuff
After 22 years, Uffindell apologised to his victim last year after a stint overseas, telling Stuff his remorse was unlinked to his political ambitions.
“We had a long conversation and I was grateful that he accepted my apology. My apology was genuine then, and it is genuine now,” he said in a statement.
The victim told Stuff he accepted the apology at the time but was rocked to see Uffindell stand for politics months later.
“I sat down to watch the news on the couch with a beer and there he was, running for parliament. I felt sick,” the victim said, speaking anonymously.
The former Rabobank executive denied a suggestion from the victim that he beat him with wooden legs from his bed, saying he had “no recollection of using anything other than my fists”.
“It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done and something I deeply regret. I’ve worked hard to be a better person than I was as a teenager,” he said.
Uffindell said he informed the party of the incident during the preselection process, though neither made the assault public.
Opposition Leader Chris Luxon did not comment on the incident on Monday, with the party instead issuing a two-sentence statement.
“The National Party was proactively informed about this incident by Sam Uffindell during the selection process,” it read.
“It was a significant event reflecting a serious error of judgment by a then 16-year-old for which he has apologised and regrets to this day.”
Asked for her opinion, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was for party leaders to answer for their MPs.
“Ultimately, the conduct of candidates or indeed, members of parliament, will be for the party’s leader and in this case, Christopher Luxon,” she said.
Ardern was asked if she experienced bullying during her younger years.
“There’s no question some of our young people in school have a horrific experience,” she said.
“I think everyone through the education system will have either witnessed or potentially experienced [bullying] themselves.
“We know actually there are some, particularly our rainbow community, who have a particularly difficult experience in their younger years.
“As political leaders, we have I think a duty of care […] to do everything we can to make sure that our education system is better than it was,” she said.
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