Podcasts about national mp sam uffindell

Let's kick-off with a bit of financial advice. If you have shares in a sausage roll factory or an ice cream shop, sell them now. Because, after today, sales are going to plummet without the politicians screaming around the country filling their gobs and scooping the cold stuff into cones. Come midnight tonight, we are done for another three years. Although the real action is still to come with voting still happening until 7 o'clock tomorrow night and then the results. I love election night. But what I think is going to be very different this time around is how people are going to react if the result isn't what they want. I'm picking that the mood of this campaign is going to linger. That's because I agree with business leader Sir Ian Taylor who is saying today that this has been the worst campaign he's ever seen because of how divided everyone is. Not just the politicians and the parties, but us voters as well. I have never known people to be either totally forthright in saying how bad they think the parties, the policies and the individual politicians are; or terrified of getting involved in arguments about politics. Especially socially. I've even heard stories about social occasions being delayed until after the election because people just don't want to risk getting groups together and it turning into a row about politics. But that's not going to end tomorrow night, or whenever we know which parties are going to be in government. That's because I reckon that this is the most divided we have been as a country since the 1981 Springbok rugby tour. The division among people then as to whether the tour should've been happening or not was probably the most divided we have been as a country. But the way things have been during this election campaign - and even before that - would have to be a close second to the division during the Springbok Tour, don't you think? I'm definitely with Sir Ian Taylor when he says that this has been the worst campaign ever because of the anger and division. Which is obvious in some of the policies that have been touted by the various parties. Policies designed to try and calm the farm because we're all so angry. GST off fruit and veggies. A crazy policy. But, hey, it could mean we're less angry when we go to the supermarket. Ending co-governance. Yep, apparently we'll be less angry if they stop that blimmin' “iwi takeover”. Less road cones. Yep - that'll make us less angry. And, as Sir Ian is saying today, with all these politicians coming up with ideas that they think will make us less angry - or policies that just put oil on the squeaky wheel - none of the parties have come up with a long-term vision for our country. The sort of vision you might expect politicians to come-up with. But that isn't happening, because of the divisiveness and anger. Which was apparent in last night's Leaders' Debate on TVNZ, wasn't it? Man alive, Chris Hipkins especially was just letting rip. Especially when Christopher Luxon was going-on about Hipkins having no control over his Cabinet, and the Labour leader came back with that line of the night, saying: "None of my MPs beat people up with a bed leg." Which was a reference, of course, to National MP Sam Uffindell. And depending who you talk to, it was either a very low blow or a brilliant piece of debating. I think it was both. It definitely made me sit up and pay attention! Put it that way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party MP Sam Uffindel recently revealed he does the shopping, once a month, in order to "give his wife a break." In June, the Tauranga politician explained to Parliament that his monthly excursion involves donning his National party jacket, grabbing a list off his wife and heading to the supermarket. As well as taking a load off his partner, Mr Uffindell said this gives him some good publicity looking like an everyday man doing the chores. Video of the speech has attracted ridicule online for its assumptions about gender roles in the home. But how many New Zealand couples do actually still stick those assumptions about men and women's work? Reporter Louise Ternouth and Camera Operator Marika Khabazi went to the supermarket to find out. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6332769627112

Today on The Panel, Wallace and panellists Phil O'Reilly and Susan Hornsby-Geluk discuss the legality of the report into National MP Sam Uffindell being made public, Jacinda Ardern's announced initiative to research social media algorithms and how early is too early for Christmas to rear its head.

National MP Sam Uffindell's former flatmate and her father would be happy for the party to publicly release a redacted copy of its bullying investigation. The Tauranga MP was reinstated to caucus following Maria Dew's inquiry into allegations he behaved aggressively, forcing her to flee the flat. National says the report found Sam Uffindell did not engage in the behaviour his former flatmate detailed on RNZ last month - which prompted the inquiry. That includes dismissing her claims he bashed on her door yelling obscenities. But she and her father stand firmly by her account about what happened at the flat, and are deeply unhappy Mr Uffindell's word was taken over hers. The National Party's leader, Christopher Luxon, spoke to Susie Fergusson.

Brand new National MP Sam Uffindell has been exonerated by the long overdue report into the allegations of bullying against him.  The investigation found allegations against Uffindell about his behaviour as a university student towards a female flatmate in Dunedin were not as reported in the media, that there were differing accounts, and the allegations could not be substantiated.  Former Beehive staffer and political pundit extraordinaire Ben Thomas joins to discuss the latest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Commentator Matthew Hooton joined the Weekend Collective to discuss, National MP Sam Uffindell, Labour MP Gaurav Sharma, national's potential changes to the job seeker benefit and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Sam Uffindell denies he terrified a flatmate by beating on her bedroom door and screaming obscenities until she fled through a window, but he has admitted beating a younger student when he was a boarder at King's College. He says, though, that boarding schools were full of 'rough and tumble' in the 1990s. So was violence and bullying really par for the course? And if it was, has anything changed? Ella Stewart reports.

Top stories for Thursday 11 August 2022 A lawyer warns an independent investigation into the behaviour of National MP Sam Uffindell could come up empty handed. A teenager involved in the violent home invasion of a 90-year-old Levin woman, who later died, is back in court. There's skepticism over Google's claim it will offer New Zealanders complete control over its own data Former US President Donald Trump refuses to answer questions at a New York fraud investigation hearing And several wahine Maori have put their hat in the mayoralty ring for this year's local body elections

Fall out from the FBI raid of Donald Trump's Mar ra Lago home continued today with many GOP politicians and commentators calling the action "Gestapo' like and 'un-American'...lets investigate those claims We also find out today allegations of National MP Sam Uffindell continued to be a disgusting, self entitled, privileged dirt bag well beyond his previous mark of getting his life together at 16 with witnesses and corroborating testimony that he continued to be a bully and violent whilst at Otago University. Seem National was prepared to stand beside the violent 16 year old Uffindell, but not the 19 year old one as we all know 22 years means you can turn your life around...but 19 years ago you have to be thrown under the bus

EasyBuild Homes managing director Mike Fox and Wellington Gold Awards director John Dow join Nick Mills on the Business Panel. Together they discuss National MP Sam Uffindell being stood down, the effects cost of living is having on the market, the flu season, National's new welfare policy and spending within central Wellington. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus, pending an investigation into further "very concerning accusations" about his past behaviour. Party Leader Christopher Luxon says he's been made aware of new allegations about Uffindell's behaviour toward a female flatmate while Uffindell was at university in 2003. The woman has told RNZ Uffindell was an aggressive bully who once pounded on her bedroom door, screaming obscenities, until she fled through her window. Uffindell has denied any accusations he was involved in bullying or intimidatory behaviour while at university. The new allegations came after revelations the new Tauranga MP was involved in an attack on a younger boy while he was at boarding school. Political Editor Barry Soper joined Heather du Plessis Allan to discuss Sam Uffindell's investigation and more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staff reporter and RNZ Under-fire National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus, pending an investigation into further "very concerning accusations" surrounding his past behaviour. In a statement late on Tuesday night, National Party leader Christopher Luxon said he had been made aware of new allegations about Uffindell's behaviour toward a female flatmate while Uffindell was at university in 2003. The woman has told RNZ Uffindell was an aggressive bully who once pounded on her bedroom door, screaming obscenities, until she fled through her window. Uffindell has denied any accusations he was involved in bullying or intimidatory behaviour while at university. This morning National Party leader Chris Luxon told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking the situation was very concerning. "You got a situation where a young woman, a flatmate has made serious allegations. It is a concerning situation for a father whose daughter is flatting, it's very real. They are serious allegations that need to be investigated. Sam is disputing the allegations." Asked if Uffindell still had his backing, Luxon told TVNZ: "We'll find out in the next few weeks because really, what this investigation is about, is looking at both sides of that investigation." Luxon also acknowledged that the investigation was needed to honour the "alleged victim" too. The new allegations came a day after revelations that the new Tauranga MP, as a teenager, beat up a younger boy at boarding school. "This evening my office became aware of very concerning accusations made to RNZ about behaviour shown by Mr Uffindell toward a female flatmate in 2003 while at university," Luxon said. "Mr Uffindell disputes the allegations and in the interests of natural justice, an independent investigation will now be undertaken to determine the facts. While this process is under way, Mr Uffindell will be stood down from caucus." Former flatmate's accusations Uffindell's former flatmate, who RNZ agreed not to name, lived with him and three other Otago University students for several months in Dunedin in 2003. She told RNZ Uffindell engaged in a pattern of bullying during their second year at university, describing him as "verbally aggressive". Uffindell would trash the house after "excessive" use of alcohol and drugs, she said. "This was intimidation. This was bullying. I didn't feel safe," she said. The woman said she eventually moved out of the flat after having to lock herself in her bedroom to avoid a drunken outburst one night. "He was smashing on my door and yelling obscenities and basically telling me to get out - 'hit the road, fatty'. "I ended up climbing out of my bedroom window and ran to a friend's house to stay the night. I feared for my safety. I was scared." The woman said it was not an isolated incident: "it was just the straw that broke the camel's back." Her father travelled to Dunedin the next day to help her move out, she said. Speaking to RNZ, the woman's father corroborated his part in the story and said his daughter had been "seriously upset". "The flat itself was completely trashed. There wasn't a stick of furniture left. There was no crockery left. There were no handles left on anything. It had all been broken." He said he gave Uffindell and two of the other flatmates "a serious piece of [his] mind" at the time. "It was clear... [Uffindell] had real issues, real problems... he was out of control." The woman said she was traumatised by the event and did her best to avoid Uffindell from then on: "my stomach would absolutely flip and drop if I saw him". Looking back, the woman said she should have spoken to someone or taken some sort of action, but she was too scared. Uffindell never apologised for his actions, she said. She said people may try to excuse Uffindell's actions because of his age, but the pattern of behaviour revealed his character. "Listening to his maiden speech in Parliament, he talks about lack of accountability and a sense of impunity - I think that's so hypocritical." Uffindell's response In a statement and while not addressing the specific allegations, Uffindell admitted engaging in a "student lifestyle" while at university. "When I was a student at Otago I enjoyed a student lifestyle, which included drinking and, at times, smoking marijuana," he said. "While in second year a number of flatmates fell out – and two of the flatmates left midway through the year. "I reject any accusation that I engaged in behaviour that was intimidatory or bullying. This simply did not happen. "While there is an investigation into these accusations I will not make further comment." National Party president Sylvia Wood said the investigation into the latest allegations would be conducted by Maria Dew QC and is expected to take two weeks. "As the party only became aware of these allegations this evening, the details of the investigation will be finalised over the next few days, including the terms of reference." Wood said in a statement. "In the interests of letting due process run its course, I will not be making additional comment on this issue while the investigation is carried out." Uffindell - who won the Tauranga byelection in June - had apologised to the boy he assaulted in 1999 while at King's College. In multiple interviews on Monday, he claimed the attack was the "stupidest" thing he'd ever done and still regretted the incident. On Tuesday he admitted to being a "bully" and a "thug" when he was younger. Speaking to the Herald on Monday, Uffindell said he believed the assault on the then 13-year-old boy 23 years ago would become public during his running in the Tauranga byelection this year. When it didn't, Uffindell chose not to tell the public until it was revealed by Stuff on Monday - a decision he still stands by, despite saying he had "taken ownership" of the incident and it had made him grow as a person. He also revealed he may have tackled other students during the "raid" of the third form (Year 9) dorm that saw him expelled, in addition to punching one student in the arm and body several times. The investigation into allegations against Uffindell will be conducted by Maria Dew QC and is expected to take two weeks. Photo / Supplied Earlier on Tuesday, Luxon said he was standing by Uffindell after news broke of the assault, but insisted he should have been told of the incident earlier. "He has my backing and he has my support but clearly he needs to build back trust with the voters of Tauranga," Luxon said. Luxon confirmed that Uffindell had declared the incident to the National Party when he sought to be a candidate. "He is not the same person that he was 22 years ago as a 16-year-old." Luxon said he should have been informed earlier. The delegates should have been informed and the voters of Tauranga should have been informed earlier. He said Uffindell's admission during selection had triggered deeper background checks and he believed that was how it was supposed to work. Luxon said National's character checking extended to speaking to people who had known Uffindell since after the King's College incident. "There was a deep exploration of this issue with Sam." While the violence committed at the school was "totally unacceptable and abhorrent", Luxon said he had been assured that Uffindell did not have any other incidents in his past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on The Panel, Wallace and panellists Conor English and Boopsie Maran discuss the average house price dropping below $1 million and today's press conference by National MP Sam Uffindell.

If MPs resigned every time they did something just to protect their political careers, then we'd probably have no one left in Parliament. But some cases are different - and that's what we have on our hands today. Brand new National MP Sam Uffindell is in the firing line not just for giving a 3rd former a hiding when he was a boarder at King's College in Auckland 23 years ago, and being kicked out of the school because of it. He's also being criticised for apologising to the victim last year, nine months before he stood for the National Party and winning the Tauranga by-election - and not telling voters about it. And, as far as I'm concerned, that's the bit that sticks. He's the guy, by the way, who insinuated in his maiden speech in Parliament last week that New Zealand has gone soft. All the talking he's been doing since the story came out yesterday about him “reaching out” to his victim and his “atonement” - that all rings about as true as his answer to a question during the by-election campaign about what he thought his biggest regret or mistake in life had been. This was in a Bay of Plenty Times Q&A article all the candidates took part in. The ACT candidate said drink-driving as a teenager was his biggest regret. Uffindell said his was not coming back home to New Zealand sooner. Pull the other one mate. Today, though, he's saying that taking part in the beating was “one of the dumbest and stupidest things I've ever done”. Which still doesn't sound like regret, does it? Dumb and stupid? Do you think his victim thinks the whole thing was “dumb and stupid”? Of course not…I think words like “terrifying”, “totally unjustified”, “repulsive” are more accurate than “dumb and stupid”. As we know, Uffindell came back to New Zealand with his family after working overseas and - according to what I heard him say to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning - it was at that point that he decided he wanted to get in touch with the guy he beat-up in the boarding house at school to apologise. He says it had been weighing on him and he wanted to do the right thing. It seems the apology was accepted - but then when the guy who was the victim of the beating saw on the news that Uffindell was standing in the Tauranga by-election, he was gobsmacked. “I felt sick.” They're his exact words. It seems the National Party knew about the incident - and that Uffindell had been kicked out of school because of it - when it selected him to be its candidate in Tauranga. For some reason, though, the party didn't share that information publicly. Nor did Uffindell. Although, apparently, he had been expecting it to come out at some point during the by-election campaign. I think it would be more accurate to say he was hoping it wouldn't come out during the campaign, don't you? The thing is, you ask anyone who's been to any boarding school anywhere in New Zealand they'll tell you stories of violence just like the one we've heard about Uffindell and his mates giving that 3rd form kid a hiding in the dorm at King's College back in ‘99. That doesn't make it any more acceptable - but it's not unique. And it's probably still happening in some places. These days, though, you'd like to think that schools are doing a bit more to stop it. I know at King's College, at least, the 3rd form or Year 9 boarders have their own boarding house these days. So incidents like the dorm raid Uffindell and his mates were involved in are less likely to happen. But what has struck me about this, is this happened 23 years ago when schools were nowhere near as proactive in dealing with bullying and violence. There was still a “grin and bear it” attitude back in 1999. Nevertheless, King's College obviously thought that whatever Uffindell did was bad enough for him to be kicked out of school the very next day. There was no stand-down. No cooling off period. He was called to a meeting with his parents and the principal and the house master and given his marching orders. The very next day. And when I heard Uffindell himself explain to Newstalk ZB what he and his mates did to that kid, it sounded absolutely appalling. And obviously the school thought so too. But, despite all that, I can look at this as a parent and know that what a person does when they are 16 shouldn't be a ball and chain they have to carry for the rest of their lives. However, I am more judgemental of someone nearing their 40s - particularly someone who wants to be an MP and wants their community to put their trust in them. And, on the basis of Uffindell not being up front with the public and only talking about his part in this appalling act of violence after it's been reported in the media, tells me that he is not the type of person I want as an MP. That's why I think he should resign.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus while further allegations of bullying raised by RNZ are investigated.  A female flatmate of Uffindell's from his University days, in 2003, says she was bullied and intimidated so badly she was forced to flee for her own safety. Uffindell denies the allegations, saying a number of flatmates fell out during his second year at university, but he rejects accusations his behaviour was intimidatory or bullying. National Party leader Christopher Luxon says an independent inquiry will be done by Maria Dew QC, over the next two weeks. Terms of reference for the inquiry will be decided today. Political commentator Brigitte Morten spoke to Guyon Espiner.

National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus while an investigation is done into further allegations of bullying raised by RNZ . A woman has come forward claiming Uffindell bullied and intimidated her so badly at a student flat in Dunedin in the early 2000s she was forced to flee for her own safety. In a statement issued late last night, Uffindell denied claims he engaged in "intimidatory or bullying" behaviour, but said there was a falling-out between flatmates. The allegations follow revelations that the new Tauranga MP, as a teenager, beat up a younger boy at Auckland's prestigious King's College boarding school and was asked to leave. The MP yesterday described himself as a 16-year-old thug but said he was now a changed person. RNZ has spoken to his former flatmate and her father. They did not want to be named. She said Uffindell engaged in a pattern of bullying fuelled by excessive drinking and would trash the house.

National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus while an investigation is done into further allegations of bullying raised by RNZ. A woman who flatted with the Tauranga MP at university in 2003 says Uffindell was an aggressive bully who once pounded on her bedroom door, screaming obscenities, until she fled through her window. In a statement issued late last night, Uffindell denied claims he engaged in "intimidatory or bullying" behaviour, but said there was a falling-out between flatmates. The allegations follow revelations that Uffindell, as a teenager, beat up a younger boy at Auckland's prestigious King's College boarding school and was asked to leave. The MP yesterday described himself as a 16-year-old thug but said he was now a changed person. RNZ has spoken to his former flatmate and her father. They did not want to be named. National Party leader Christopher Luxon released a statement late on Tuesday night. "This evening my office became aware of very concerning accusations made to RNZ about behaviour shown by Mr Uffindell toward a female flatmate in 2003 while at university," he said. "Mr Uffindell disputes the allegations and in the interests of natural justice, an independent investigation will now be undertaken to determine the facts. While this process is underway, Mr Uffindell will be stood down from caucus. "The investigation will be conducted by Maria Dew QC and I expect it to take two weeks. "However, as these allegations have only come to me in the last few hours, the finer details of the investigation, including the terms of reference, are yet to be confirmed and will be finalised over the next couple of days." Uffindell has also responded and said when he was a student at Otago he enjoyed a student lifestyle, which included drinking and, at times, smoking marijuana. While in second year a number of flatmates fell out - and two of the flatmates left midway through the year. He rejects any accusation that he was engaged in behaviour that was intimidatory or bullying. he says it simply did not happen. Uffindell said while there is an investigation into these accusations he will not make further comment.

National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus while an investigation is carried out into further allegations of bullying raised by RNZ. A woman who flatted with the Tauranga MP at university in 2003 has told RNZ's Morning Report Uffindell was an aggressive bully who once pounded on her bedroom door, screaming obscenities, until she fled through her window. In a statement issued late Tuesday night, Uffindell denied claims he engaged in "intimidatory or bullying" behaviour, but said there was a falling-out between flatmates. The allegations follow revelations that Uffindell, as a teenager, beat up a younger boy at Auckland's prestigious King's College boarding school and was asked to leave. National Party leader Christopher Luxon spoke to Guyon Espiner.

National MP Sam Uffindell has been stood down from the party's caucus while an investigation is carried out into further allegations of bullying raised by RNZ. A woman who flatted with the Tauranga MP at university in 2003 has told RNZ's Morning Report Uffindell was an aggressive bully who once pounded on her bedroom door, screaming obscenities, until she fled through her window. In a statement issued late Tuesday night, Uffindell denied claims he engaged in "intimidatory or bullying" behaviour, but said there was a falling-out between flatmates. The allegations follow revelations that Uffindell, as a teenager, beat up a younger boy at Auckland's prestigious King's College boarding school and was asked to leave. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson spoke to Guyon Espiner.

National MP Sam Uffindell's past is being put under the microscope following allegations made by a former flatmate when he was at Otago University. The woman told RNZ he was an aggressive bully who scared her so badly one night she fled through her bedroom window; in a statement last night Uffindell denied the claims and said there was a falling out between two flatmates. While Uffindell is stood down, an investigation into his past will be conducted by Maria Dew QC. It will include the original allegation - admitted by Uffindell himself - of an attack on a 13-year-old boarder while he was a 16-year-old student at Kings College - actions that resulted in him being made to leave the school. So did National have any other option, but the one it's taken? Susie speaks with political commentator and former National government press secretary, Ben Thomas.

National's newest MP has admitted he physically and mentally hurt other students while he was at school. Sam Uffindell was kicked out of King's College 22 years ago after beating a 13-year-old in a dormitory. The incident has followed him to Parliament this week and has flung the National Party into damage control. RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher has the story.

The National MP Sam Uffindell says boarding schools in the 90s were a “rough and tumble” environment but the incident which saw him expelled from Kings College was the most serious he was involved in. Uffindell has admitted he was asked to leave the school when he was 16 after a physical assault on a younger student. He told Morning Report students would punch and tackle each other. But his attack on a third former on the last day of term was the only event he mentioned to the National Party selection committee. He says he regrets the incident. Uffindell denies that his apology to the victim last year was in preparation for his political career.

National MP Sam Uffindell said there was a culture of "rough and tumble" when asked if he had been involved in any other incidents of bullying as a schoolboy. Aged 16 as a Year 11 student at King's College, Uffindell and three others jumped on the then 13-year-old boy and began beating him with what was believed to be unscrewed wooden bed legs. "Boarding houses in the 1999, there was a bit of rough and tumble that went on... we would tackle and punch each other around a bit, but I wouldn't go out and focus on someone. "This was the most serious," he told RNZ. He also said that any other incidents were "not targeted" but would not disclose details. Uffindell reiterated that when we was asked to leave King's College it was solely related to the assault he was involved in made on a 13-year-old student. He said the incident was his fault and he takes full accountability. "I try and live my life as an adult as a responsible person to set a good example to my children and to others." The National Party leader Christopher Luxon and his deputy Nicola Willis only learned of Sam Uffindell's school teenage dormitory assault yesterday afternoon, it has been revealed. Willis told RNZ said she found out about the incident just after lunchtime and she believed that Luxon also found out then. She said Uffindell had disclosed the incident to the pre-selection panel, made up of local and national party representatives, and they had made the decision about not precluding him from standing for Parliament. "That's a party matter. That's their judgement. Where I stand on this today is that I have advised Sam that what he should do now is be completely upfront with New Zealanders about this because ultimately it is the people of New Zealand and the people of Tauranga who will be the judges of us." Willis described it as a serious incident and her thoughts were with the victim, saying it would have been a traumatic event at the time and something that would never leave you. She said there should be room in Parliament for those who made serious errors, accounted for them but were now committed to using their position for good. "If I thought that Sam was still the same man as he was when he was a 16-year-old when he committed this act then I don't think there would be a place for him in Parliament. However, I see that he is extremely sincere in his regret in his genuine apology and that he is being upfront about what occurred and that he is a different person today than when this happened." His former school, King's College, has also spoken out after it was revealed the National MP assaulted a 13-year-old student while attending the school. King's College headmaster Simon Lamb confirmed the incident and said it was dealt with at the time. "The issue referred to in the Stuff article today was a matter which the College dealt with 22 years ago," said Lamb. "Since that time, the College has not been involved in any follow-up activity with those involved, including the recent discussions reported in the article." Sam Uffindell is the MP for Tauranga. Photo / File The incident reportedly occurred in 1999 on the last night of term inside one of the King's College boarding houses. It was reported by Stuff that the now MP for Tauranga apologised to his victim 22 years after the attack and nine months before he revealed his political aspirations. Uffindell has detailed the late-night violent beating of a younger boy that led to him being asked to leave King's College while he was a student. Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan, Uffindell confirmed the incident and said it was "one of the dumbest, stupidest things I have ever done". He also wouldn't rule out standing down as MP. "It was one of the silliest, stupidest things I've ever done. I really regretted it, I do really regret it still," Uffindell told Newstalk ZB. Police were not involved but he was asked to leave King's College, and finished his schooling at St Paul's Collegiate in Hamilton. Uffindell said at the end of the school year students went into the third-form dorm and "raided them". With the boy, he said he punched him a "bunch of times" in the arms and body. He and the other boys were called into the school the next day and asked to leave, Uffindell said. He said he was gutted about the incident, "had taken ownership of it" and had thought about it for years. He said he had "no recollection" of using bed legs to beat the boy. "I still am sorry for what happened, I wish it had not happened." A statement from the National Party said the party had been "proactively informed" about the incident by Uffindell during the selection process ahead of the Tauranga byelection. "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," the statement read. The victim, who was not named, told Stuff that Uffindell contacted him through a mutual acquaintance in July last year to apologise, which the victim eventually accepted. "But then a few months later I sat down to watch the news on the couch with a beer and there he was, running for Parliament," the victim said. "I felt sick." Uffindell had reportedly not mentioned his political intentions during the interaction. "We had a long conversation and I was grateful that he accepted my apology. My apology was genuine then, and it is genuine now."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Sam Uffindell was asked to leave King's College while he was a student after he was involved in a late-night violent beating of a younger boy, according to one report. Aged 16 as a Year 11 student at the Auckland boarding school, Uffindell and three others reportedly jumped on the boy and began beating him with what was believed to be unscrewed wooden bed legs, according to Stuff. It was reported the now MP for Tauranga apologised to his victim 22 years after the attack and nine months before he revealed his political aspirations. Sam Uffindell joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I remember hearing about a school that, apparently, has four categories in its annual cross-country running event. Competitive running, non-competitive running, competitive walking and non-competitive walking. And I suspect this is the type of thing new National MP Sam Uffindell was getting at, when he delivered his maiden speech in Parliament last night. The general drift of his speech was that New Zealand has slipped into cruise mode (or a general malaise, as he put it) and we seem to be more than willing to accept mediocrity and we have much lower expectations and we need to take a good hard look at ourselves. So if I was to summarise - Sam Uffindell thinks we've gone a bit soft. He talked in Parliament last night about playing sport when he was a kid, and playing to win. “Every time I played, my dad taught me to play to win. And I did, and I loved it. Now we don't even keep score.” Which is why I mentioned the school cross-country with the four categories - competitive running, non-competitive running, competitive walking and non-competitive walking. Over the years, I've probably been just as guilty as the next person of rolling my eyes over the whole “taking part is more important than winning” thing. I certainly did that when I heard about the “non-competitive walking” cross-country. Just like, over the years, when I've gone to the kids' swimming sports and I've been dismayed how the number of kids taking part seems to have dwindled every year. Because taking part in school swimming competitions isn't compulsory anymore. Not that that seems to have stopped our swimmers from winning medals at the Commonwealth Games, has it? But is it really such a big deal that kids don't have to do the swimming sports if they don't want to? And is it really such a big deal that there's a school that lets the kids go for a non-competitive walk around the cross-country course? And are these things really going to be the downfall of our country? Another thing the new Tauranga MP talked about in his speech last night was wanting his kids to grow up in a country that allows people to reach their potential. Which I think is an interesting concept in itself, because who determines what someone's potential is? When I read that comment I couldn't help thinking about something mental health campaigner Mike King said recently. He was talking about how what we, as parents, think is encouragement, is actually the complete opposite. He gave an example of two parents talking to their son, and saying: “Your mum and I love you but we both know you can do better.” The parents think it's encouragement, but Mike King says what the kid thinks is: “No matter what I do, I'm never going to be good enough for you.” And that's where I think this talk about people reaching their potential can be so dangerous. Because who decides what someone's potential is? There's a line I like to use about what good is a a mind if you can't change it - and that's how I feel after reading Sam Uffindell's comments. All power to him if he loves to win. I like to win too. But we can't win all the time. And there are many, many people who never win - and how do you think they feel when they hear a member of our parliament saying winning is everything and, if you don't win, it means you've gone soft. Which is why I no longer think it's absurd that kids, for example, don't have to take part in the swimming sports - and why I no longer think a non-competitive walking category in the school cross country is nuts. I've changed my mind. Because I reckon the worst thing we can do for anyone, is decide on their behalf what their potential is - and, even worse, tell them when we think they're not living up to it. I'll put my hand up and say I struggle with that all the time, as a parent. I suspect you do too, if you're a parent. But I want to get better at it. And that's why I completely disagree with MP Sam Uffindell's view that New Zealand has gone soft. I don't think we are more willing to accept mediocrity. And I don't think our expectations are any lower than they used to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.