Photo: NZ HeraldNational Party leader Christopher Luxon said he was not aware MP Barbara Kuriger had met with Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor as part of her son's dispute with MPI – a meeting O'Connor revealed today. Kuriger stood down from the agriculture portfolio last week after a third party advised his office of an ongoing dispute between MPI and Kuriger's son Tony, in which Kuriger was involved. O'Connor, who has been Agriculture Minister since 2017, said he had spoken with Kuriger "several times" about the issue and even met her son Tony. Kuriger resigned from her portfolio after a person claiming to be an MPI staffer wrote to Luxon concerned about Kuriger's advocacy for her son, which included writing to Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor and to senior MPI executives. The email alleged "misconduct" by Kuriger and said "senior leaders are trying to appease her" because she was expected to be agriculture minister should National win next year's election.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 18, 2022 00:03 UTC