Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he's "comfortable" with Chris Bishop's response after his comments at the Aotearoa Music Awards.
Bishop was captured on video saying "what a load of crap" during Stan Walker's Aotearoa Music Awards performance on Thursday.
Musician Don McGlashan said he heard "ranting" and told Bishop to "shut up", though at first he did not realise it was the minister.
In a statement to RNZ, Bishop admitted he said something about performative acclaim and said "what a lot of crap".
He said it referred to what he called the overtly political branding on display.
"On reflection, I should have kept my thoughts to myself," he said.
Stan Walker performing Māori Ki Te Ao at the Aotearoa Music Awards on Thursday. Photo: Emma Cooper
Luxon told Morning Report he spoke to Bishop over the weekend about this and other issues but there was no need to step in.
"I didn't have to say anything really. He'd already come out publicly and said he could have kept his thoughts to himself and I'm quite comfortable with that.
"I just got his side of the story about what he said and it was exactly as reported. He corrected it well before I got to him ... he just acknowledged he should have kept his thoughts to himself.
"The bottom line is your listeners aren't losing a lot of sleep over what a politician sharing his opinion on some music was about."
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour defended Bishop's behaviour and said people would make up their own minds about the remarks.
"Just because you become a senior minister, it doesn't mean you should stop having opinions and it might well be that, based on [what] Chris saw in that moment, he was correct. It may be that people will agree with him."
Paul Goldsmith (left) and Chris Bishop at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards (AWAs) in Auckland, on 29 May, 2025. Photo: Supplied/ Stijl - James Ensing-Trussell
The producers of the Aotearoa Music Awards said Bishop's remarks had "no place" at the awards ceremony.
In a statement the producers said they were committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.
"The Awards respect and honour te ao Māori and we were proud to support Stan with his vision for his powerful rendition of Māori Ki Te Ao."
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