Summarised by Centrist
TVNZ has aired a rare report critical of the Greens, as backlash grows over Chlöe Swarbrick’s defence of MP Benjamin Doyle’s social media posts involving sexually suggestive content alongside a photo featuring a child.
Note: Benjamin Doyle has not been charged with any offence. Our reporting concerns issues of public judgment and accountability, not criminal wrongdoing.
“I’m telling you nine to one the Rainbow community is as mad about this as we are,” Winston Peters told reporters, accusing the media of double standards.
TVNZ’s Maiki Sherman reported that the network was cc’ed into an email from a gay woman in her 50s who said she was appalled by Swarbrick’s claim that terms like “bussy”–a slang word for male anus–are “oftentimes” used within the Rainbow community.
“Being gay is not an excuse to behave inappropriately or make inappropriate comments,” the woman wrote. “We are being tarred with an ‘outrageous’ brush.”
Swarbrick refused to front for media despite being in Parliament, as the Greens face growing heat for doubling down on Doyle’s conduct instead of addressing concerns.
Editor’s note: Read Ian Wishart’s article “Open Letter to NZ Media on Green MP Benjamin Doyle”– a critical look at why an investigation into the Greens Early Childhood Education representative is warranted.
