Bayly opts for Nepal over work

What’s a great look after having to resign as a minister and being relegated to the government’s back benches? Trek to base camp at Mount Everest, apparently.

Andrew Bayly has taken two weeks’ off from his Beehive and Port Waikato constituency work while parliament is sitting.

Bayly stepped down from his portfolios in February after grabbing a male staffer’s upper arm during a discussion he described as “animated”. It’s understood he requested personal leave shortly after his resignation.

The Prime Minister’s office concedes it’s rare for National to grant personal leave while parliament is sitting, but requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

At a post-cabinet press conference on March 10, Luxon said it was important Bayly had some time to clear his head after resigning. “It was an emotional decision to resign and not unreasonable for him to have time off.”

Scott Simpson, the MP for Coromandel, has taken over as Minister for ACC and Commerce and Consumer Affairs from Bayly, who remains as an MP.

In October 2024, Bayly repeatedly apologised after repeatedly calling a worker a “loser” on a site visit for his former small business portfolio.

The worker’s complaint said the minister had questioned why they were still working and told them to “take a bottle of wine and go home, take some wine and f*** off”. Bayly later called them a “loser” in front of their boss and other people. He also formed the letter on his forehead with his fingers.

Historically, having a holiday while parliament is in session is frowned upon although he’s the second MP in a month to do so. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarwea-Packer went to Rarotonga in February for her wedding anniversary. Act MP Parmjeet Parmar also took leave earlier this year for a wedding.

The PM appears to be in good spirits, though, about Bayly’s Nepalese pilgrimage as this video on Stuff shows.