\u201cI believe it is important that the people of the Port Waikato electorate are represented by someone who is able to live locally and maintain a strong, day\u2011to\u2011day connection with the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
He called it an \u201chonour and a privilege to serve the people of the Port Waikato electorate\u201d and he was \u201cgrateful for the trust they have placed in me\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been through Covid, numerous cyclones and major flooding events, where people have lost their lives, their homes and livelihoods. It has been tough at times, but I am proud of what we have achieved together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew Bayly was previously the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell <\/p>\n
Bayly was first elected to Parliament in 2014, initially for the Hunua electorate which then became Port Waikato in 2020. <\/p>\n
The MP was briefly ranked third within the National Party under then-leader Judith Collins. He held the position of shadow-Treasurer until Collins was ousted and Christopher Luxon was installed as leader.<\/p>\n
After National took office in late 2023, Bayly was made Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Small Business and Manufacturing, and Statistics. <\/p>\n
He apologised in October 2024 after a complaint that he allegedly<\/a> swore at, mocked and ridiculed a man during a ministerial visit to a winery in Marlborough.<\/p>\n The complaint included that he had sworn at, ridiculed, and mocked a worker at the business, including by repeatedly calling the man a \u201closer\u201d and telling him to \u201ctake some wine… and f*** off\u201d.<\/p>\n Bayly admitted calling the worker a \u201closer\u201d and pulling an \u201cL\u201d on his forehead but denied swearing or that he had been drinking before the interactions. He has acknowledged he took part in a small wine tasting, but after interacting with the worker.<\/p>\n The Herald later revealed images of Bayly at the winery<\/a>, including drinking from a wine glass at what appeared to be a wine tasting at the vineyard.<\/p>\n He said at the time he had meant his actions in a light-hearted manner but he understood they had offended the worker. <\/p>\n Luxon described the behaviour as disappointing but said he had got assurances it wouldn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n However, months later in February last year, Bayly resigned his ministerial portfolios after an allegation <\/a>he \u201cplaced a hand\u201d on a staff member\u2019s arm during an \u201canimated discussion\u201d.<\/p>\n But then last October, Bayly said he had learnt no formal complaint <\/a>had ever been made against him and a claim that the allegation was corroborated by three other people wasn\u2019t correct.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what made me get to a position that I put my resignation in,\u201d Bayly said. \u201cIf I\u2019d known what I do now, I wouldn\u2019t have offered it.\u201d<\/p>\nAndrew Bayly has been an MP since 2014. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n