Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed to never again accept a donation from controversial Hurricanes board member Troy Bowker over comments she described as "appalling and backward".
Election returns show Bowker's Caniwi Capital donated $5000 to Ardern's 2017 Mt Albert by-election campaign, but the Prime Minister has promised to never accept money from him again after his remarks about Māori.
"Yes, yes, obviously," she said on Monday, when asked if she will reject any further donations from Bowker. "I've obviously had that expectation of any of our members, and I of course would hold myself to that."
Bowker came under fire last week from several politicians - including Speaker Trevor Mallard and Sports Minister Grant Robertson - after he accused businessman Sir Ian Taylor on social media of "sucking up to the left Māori loving agenda".
He wrote in a LinkedIn comment section: "Another example of European NZers not being proud of their own ancestors and sucking up to the left Māori loving agenda. FFS. Wake up NZ."
Ardern says she was not aware of Bowker when he donated to her campaign in 2017.
"It was registered as Caniwi so obviously not in the name of Troy Bowker and it just did not occur to me because it's not a name that was in my mind as having received a donation from," she told reporters.
"At that time my usual process was familiarising myself with the nature of the company and or individuals, so I would do checks like that, but there was nothing that sent a red flag to me at that time.
"I imagine that now, Mr Bowker is probably quite unhappy with the outcome of his donation."
Ardern joined the chorus of backlash over Bowker's comments, describing them as "pretty appalling and backward" - but she does not believe it was hate speech.
ACT leader David Seymour seems to think otherwise.
"The Cabinet paper on the proposed law states that a person can be jailed for up to three years for 'the incitement of disharmony, based on an intent to stir up, maintain or normalise hatred, through threatening, abusive, or insulting communications'," he said on Monday.
"It is difficult to see how the law would not apply to Bowker's comments."
Seymour also acknowledged that Bowker has donated to ACT before.
"I would also like to be clear that Troy Bowker has made a financial contribution to the ACT Party. That contribution was made long after ACT began defending free speech, and long before his recent comments."
In a statement posted to Facebook on Saturday night, Bowker said he would be exiting his Hurricanes shareholding - although he claimed the decision was made in February.
"For at least six months the Hurricanes board has been working through a capital restructure in preparation for the ending of the current license term on 31 August," he wrote.
"I have now notified the chairman that I intend to accept the offer which has been made for my shares on terms with which I am very happy."
Bowker is standing by his controversial comments.
"I wish to make it clear that I stand behind the theme of what I said and my right to express those views in a free, democratic society.
"I am concerned about the future of our wonderful country where I believe freedom of speech is at risk. I would like to acknowledge the overwhelmingly positive support I've received from hundreds of people who share my concerns, including many from the Māori community."
Bowker also criticised the Government's hate speech law proposals, echoing Seymour's question over whether what he said could be considered unlawful.
"Many people are simply too afraid to speak up out of fear. Living in a society where a culture of fear restricts the freedom of speech is not something that we as a country should accept.
"Is the Prime Minister willing to comment on whether my remarks would be considered hate speech, prosecutable under the proposed legislation? If she cannot - we should all be very concerned."
