Opposition MPs focusing on issues beyond 'ponytailgate'

John Key. Photo / Chris Gorman

The ponytail saga that has bedeviled Prime Minister John Key for the past 10 days barely took up a minute of Parliament's time today with Opposition MPs choosing to focus on other issues.

It was the first day Mr Key appeared since a blog by waitress Amanda Bailey at his local café in Auckland said he had frequently pulled her ponytail despite her objections.

Labour leader Andrew Little asked Mr Key whether he enforced high standards of conduct on all of his ministers, including himself.

Mr Key said yes.

"However in respect of my actions at a Parnell café, my conduct clearly upset the staff member in question.

"I sincerely apologized to her at the time that I became aware of that and I have continued to do so publicly."

Mr Little asked whether Mr Key accepted that pulling a woman's hair who was just trying to do her job was "unworthy of any grown man, let alone the Prime Minister."

Key: "Yes, I accept I misread the situation. I have apologized for that.

Little: Does he accept that through his embarrassing and weird behaviour he has now made the office of the Prime Minister of New Zealand an international laughing stock?

Key: No but I do accept I have to take responsibility for my own actions.

Mr Little moved on to matters involving other ministers and former minister Judith Collins and he suggested that Mr Key had lost his "moral authority."

"And that is why Judith Collins is sharpening her knives."

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters who was especially vocal about the ponytail saga asked no questions about it but was incensed at the possibility of Judith Collins returning to cabinet.

Peters: Does this mean that his subterranean standards are so low that Judith Collins, despite the appalling Oravida scandal and numerous gaffes is soon to be welcomed back into cabinet?

Mr Key said he had a caucus full of talent and opportunity.

"Judith happens to be one of its members. There are many others and if one day an opportunity open itself, I am sure that Judith, along with many others, will be wanting to put her hand up."