A staff member for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has resigned over allegations his office calls “serious” and “concerning”.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office said it was first made aware of allegations when contacted by a journalist at 4pm on June 3.
According to reports by Stuff, Michael Forbes had been acting as the Prime Minister’s deputy chief press secretary and had allegedly recorded audio without consent of sessions with Wellington sex workers.
It was also alleged the press secretary had images of women exercising at a gym, shopping, and taken through a window while getting dressed.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson did not comment on the nature of the allegations, but said that matter was discussed with the staff member on the evening of June 3.
“It was clear their employment was untenable,” the spokesperson said. “It was agreed that the staff member was stood down that evening and they resigned the following morning.”
Had the staff member not resigned, the spokesperson said it expected their employment would have been terminated after a short investigation.
“As this is an employment matter between the individual and Ministerial Services, the Prime Minister will not be able to comment further.”
Police confirm complaint
Wellington Police district manager of criminal investigations, John Van Den Heuvel, told 1News in a statement that police received a complaint from a Wellington brothel in July last year, after a client “was found to have concerning images and recordings on his phone”.
“Police investigated, and having spoken to the individual, and noting the event did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution, the case was filed,” said Van Den Heuvel.
Forbes issues statement
In a statement, Forbes said: “I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the women I have harmed.”
“In the past, I was in a downward spiral due to unresolved trauma and stress, and when confronted with the impacts of my behaviour a year ago, I sought professional help, which is something I wish I had done much earlier.
“What I failed to do then was make a genuine attempt to apologise. Instead, I tried to move on without offering those I had harmed the acknowledgment, accountability, or amends they deserved. I recognise how wrong that was.”
Forbes added he has spent the past year reflecting on “how I may have affected these women’s sense of safety” and “ability to go about their lives and work”.
“No one should ever feel violated, unsafe, or disrespected, especially in spaces where they should feel secure, and I am truly sorry for contributing to an environment where women may have felt otherwise.
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“The therapy I’ve received over the past year has helped me to understand the roots of my behaviour and begin addressing the patterns that led to it. This is a long-term commitment to change that I take very seriously.
“I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do.”
* An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to the Prime Minister’s chief press secretary. Michael Forbes has resigned from his role as acting deputy chief press secretary.
