Alfred Ngaro didn't consider offering resignation over remarks

Alfred Ngaro was appointed to Cabinet last December. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro didn't consider offering his resignation after fall out from his comments threatening to cut funding to a community group.

Labour leader Andrew Little has stepped up criticism of Ngaro, saying the Pacific Peoples and Community and Voluntary Sector Minister had showed a "total lack of remorse" and he should be dismissed by Prime Minister Bill English.

"I think that is worrying and I think it is a question of Bill English's leadership that he take appropriate action on that," Little said today.

"I think in the absence of Alfred Ngaro tendering his resignation, showing he understands the gravity of what he has done, I think Bill English should dismiss him."

Ngaro, facing media for the first time since the controversy, said he didn't consider offering his resignation. He was sorry for his comments and recognised they had "let the team down" as they didn't represent the Government's position.

"We accept all views, whether they be different or not."

Ngaro said he had spoken to some community groups since the controversy, and had been "humbled" by "the grace they have extended to me".

"I have been very thankful that a number of them have said to me, 'We are going to continue that relationship'."

In question time, Labour's community and voluntary spokeswoman Poto Williams asked Ngaro what organisations he had in mind when he made his comments, and why he made them.

Ngaro avoided answering those questions, again saying his comments were wrong, he apologised for them, and they did not reflect the way the Government operated.

His comments at National's northern regional conference were reported by Newsroom, which said Ngaro appeared to suggest Labour candidate Willie Jackson could lose Government support for his organisation's bid for a second charter school and Whanau Ora contracts should Jackson criticise National on the campaign trail.

Ngaro was appointed to Cabinet last December after Prime Minister Bill English took over from John Key.

Jackson is chief executive of the Manukau Urban Maori Authority, which runs a charter school in Mangere and has a Government contract to deliver the Whanau Ora social programme.