Crass politics: NZ 'catching up' with the world - expert
New Zealand politics is facing scrutiny following a series of crude remarks and controversial statements by political candidates and ministers. Academics suggest the country is mirroring global trends of increasingly 'crass' political discourse.
Why it matters
The normalization of aggressive or lewd language in political campaigns raises concerns about the quality of democratic debate and the potential for real-world harm.
<p>New Zealand appears to be catching up with the rest of the world on crass politics, a political communication academic says — as three separate rows over crude language hit the election campaign in a single week.</p> <p>The latest row came yesterday morning, when ACT candidate Paul Henry <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/23/oh-come-on-acts-paul-henry-divides-mps-over-shoot-hipkins-line/" target="_blank">said on Radio Hauraki</a> he would "shoot" Labour leader Chris Hipkins in a game of "shoot, shag, marry".</p> <p>Meanwhile, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is continuing to field questions about NZ First minister Shane Jones' <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/20/crass-pm-responds-to-jones-take-off-your-knee-pads-remark/" target="_blank">lewd remarks</a> about other party leaders' "kneepads" at his party's convention.</p> <p>Former hopeful in the Napier electorate, Stuart Nash <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/22/stuart-nash-resigns-as-nz-first-candidate-over-sexist-text/" target="_blank">also quit</a> as NZ First's candidate over a text calling National MP Katie Nimon lazy after she took parental leave.
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