She maintained the caucus was not confused over its position on the ban and denied the caucus was split over whether to retain it.
Labour deputy Carmel Sepuloni and leader Chris Hipkins have said they would not repeal the patch ban. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Henare has been approached for comment.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith, who led the ban becoming law, initially reacted with disbelief when told Labour would not repeal the ban.
“It shows what [Henare] really thinks, and I wouldn’t trust him for a moment. I think they probably will [repeal it].”
Goldsmith then said Sepuloni should inform Henare of the party’s position and Labour’s justice spokesperson: “I don’t know who that is. Roger somebody, I think his name is.”
Labour’s justice spokesperson is Duncan Webb. Labour has no MPs named Roger.
Asked what Labour MP he was referring to, Goldsmith said: “I can’t remember.”
Adam Pearse is the deputy political editor and part of the NZ Herald’s press gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.