Politics

Michael Wood and Kiri Allan return to Parliament

14:01 pm on 18 July 2023

Labour MPs Michael Wood and Kiri Allan have returned to Parliament, where they say they will be laser-focused on their work and the upcoming election.

Wood resigned as a minister last month after failing to identify and manage conflicts of interest, while Allan dealt with allegations over the treatment of staff.

Wood was stood down as transport minister in early June after it emerged he had not declared shares in Auckland Airport worth about $13,000.

He later resigned after confirming he was the beneficiary of further shares which he had failed to declare.

On his way to Labour's caucus meeting this morning - his first since his resignation - Wood was adamant the public could trust him.

"I spent all of my adult life working to try and make life better for New Zealanders. Like a lot of people I do sometimes make mistakes, I have in this case. I've apologised for those and I've spent the last few weeks putting things right.

"I've spent the last few weeks on the ground in Mount Roskill and actually, I've had a really good response there. A lot of people have sort of said 'look, you're a silly goose, you got this wrong. You need to sort these things out, get back and get focused on the issues' That's what I'm doing."

Wood confirmed he will contest October's election and seek re-election in Mount Roskill.

"There are a lot of important issues there and I want to get on with helping people with those as part of the next Labour Government."

Meanwhile, Kiri Allan said she had used the past few weeks to reflect, and wanted to create an environment where people wanted to come to work.

The justice minister returned to full duties yesterday after taking some time out amid allegations she mistreated staff more than a year ago.

Allan said she would do whatever was necessary to improve.

"You want to create an environment where people will love strapping their boots on to come to work... What I've been put in this role to do is to crack on in and deliver outcomes for the East Coast, but also in a range of portfolio areas. To do that, you know, working with people is incredibly critical to that.

"So where anybody who hasn't felt like, you know, it's been good to chuck their boots on and come to work, well, that's something I want to take responsibility for."

Allan has been receiving extra coaching to deal with any issues in her office - an offer the prime minister has extended to any minister who may be going through the same.