Bishop won't apologise for comment at music awards

Otago Daily Times

03-06-2025

Senior government Minister Chris Bishop says he was frustrated by the politicisation of Stan Walker's performance at the Aotearoa Music Awards, when he said "what a load of crap".
During Walker's performance of Māori Ki te Ao on Thursday last week in Auckland performers took to the stage with flags displaying Toitū Te Tiriti - a movement borne out of opposition to the controversial and voted down Treaty Principles Bill and other government legislation.
Bishop, who was in attendance, was seen criticising the performance, and has since said he should have kept the comments to himself.
Today he told reporters his comments were not directed specifically at Walker.
"I was frustrated and annoyed by the sort of overt politicking around it.
"It's not about Stan Walker, I actually quite like Stan Walker, actually quite liked his performance. It was just the sort of politicisation of it that frustrated me."
Bishop singled out the Toitū Te Tiriti "banners and paraphernalia" as the source of his frustration, not the performance itself.
He said he would not be apologising to Walker.
"It's not clear what I'd be apologising for."
The producers of the Aotearoa Music Awards said Bishop's remarks had "no place" at the ceremony. In a statement, they 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 ."
Bishop's comments led to backlash from other performers, including Don McGlashan, who was seen on video confronting Bishop.
But the National MP said the irony was he is a "huge" Don McGlashan fan.
"I love the Mutton Birds. But Don McGlashan is a noteworthy non-supporter of the National Party.
"People might remember the 2008 election, in which he expressed some frustration at Anchor Me , which is a great Mutton Birds tune, being used by TVNZ on the election night coverage," Bishop said.
"His political views are quite well-known. But look, it is what it is - he's entitled to his views in the same way I'm entitled to mine."
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Paul Goldsmith, who was also at the awards, brushed off whether the performance was controversial.
"There's always controversy at music awards. It goes without saying."
Māori Crown relations minister Tama Potaka said he disagreed with Bishop's comments, but they were for the minister to respond to.
"I absolutely love Stan Walker and his commitment to te reo, and the mahi that he does particularly in his engagement with Ratana, the hāhi. I don't agree with Minister Bishop's comments, however those are a matter for him to comment on," Potaka said.
Labour's Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said Bishop, as a music fan, should know that music had always been political.
"He should know music better than anyone. Look around the world, people have been doing that for years. Whether it's Bob Marley, Bono, whatever, it's been happening, it's not like something new.
"He should talk to his Shihad heroes, 'cos the lead singer there's got pretty good politics too."
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told RNZ's Morning Report programme today he was comfortable with Bishop's response, and had spoken to him over the weekend.
"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."
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Bishop's behaviour was disappointing, but it was for Luxon to bring his ministers in line.
"You've got to remember when you're a government minister that you're on public display all of the time."