Sam Uffindell

An investigation into MP Sam Uffindell did not substantiate reports he was a bully after leaving high school, National Party president Sylvia Wood says.

The victim said they arrived in his dorm room and hit him with a wooden bed leg, leaving him bruised. They work for you, not the parties or people in power. During his suspension, he continued to serve as the MP for Tauranga. She said lawyer Maria Dew interviewed 14 people in her investigation, and read “a number of written statements”. During National’s candidate selection process, Uffindell told the party he had attacked a student while at King’s College. Whatever your politics, we can all agree: New Zealand is better off when Kiwis are well-informed. National held a special caucus meeting on Monday, ahead of its scheduled Tuesday meeting, to discuss Uffindell’s future with the party. I think we should all take, very seriously, assault and bullying allegations.” He has repeatedly said he was “a bully” and “thug” as a teenager. [Stuff revealed that Uffindell](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300656643/national-mp-sam-uffindell-asked-to-leave-prestigious-kings-college-after-violent-nighttime-attack-on-younger-boy), when he was aged 16, joined with three other teenagers in attacking a 13-year-old in the middle of the night. [MP Sam Uffindell](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/129714732/sam-uffindells-suspension-drags-on-as-bullying-investigation-delayed?rm=a) has been welcomed back to the National Party, after it was revealed [he attacked a younger student at high school](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300656643/national-mp-sam-uffindell-asked-to-leave-prestigious-kings-college-after-violent-nighttime-attack-on-younger-boy) and then faced claims of bullying as a university student. It voted to reinstate him.

Uffindell was stood down more than a month ago after allegations relating to his behaviour at school and university.

This simply did not happen," he said last month. [stood down more than a month ago](https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/09/national-mp-sam-uffindell-stood-down-while-new-allegations-investigated/) pending the investigation into allegations about behaviour towards a female flatmate in 2003. [investigation ](https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/29/report-into-uffindells-alleged-bullying-behaviour-delayed/)into allegations against National MP Sam Uffindell has been completed, with the party receiving the independent report late last week.

Watch: Christopher Luxon is holding a press conference. Credits: Newshub. Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell will return to the National Party caucus after a report into ...

"The investigation has found there are differing accounts of an incident that happened 20 years ago in the context of a student flat that was breaking up. While suspended from the caucus, Uffindell continued to act as an electorate MP. He hasn't spoken to the individual in the flat since. Luxon on Monday acknowledged "the people who have been hurt or harmed by Sam's past behaviour". I apologise and regret my part in that," he said. It was alleged Uffindell acted aggressively towards a flatmate.

Photo: RNZ. The National Party caucus met today and is reinstating Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell, following an independent investigation into "serious allegations" ...

Mr Uffindell has acknowledged that things were said that he now realises his flatmate overheard, which he regrets,” says Luxon. Consistent with confidentiality undertakings given, the report will not be made public.” “Mr Uffindell is looking forward to working hard for the people of Tauranga. “With the known matters having now been independently considered, and with Mr Uffindell’s own acknowledgement that he is a different person now to the person he once was, we are now able to move forward. “Mr Uffindell has also publicly acknowledged that he was a bully at King’s College and that this behaviour harmed a number of people, for which he has apologised. National leader Christopher Luxon says the investigation found that Uffindell "did not engage in the serious behaviour alleged in the media".

Leader Christopher Luxon asked Dew to conduct a review after allegations of aggressive and bullying behaviour were made against Uffindell dating from his time ...

[kicked out of his boarding school](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/472469/national-mp-sam-uffindell-asked-to-leave-king-s-college-after-attacking-younger-pupil) as a 16-year-old for beating a younger student. [Uffindell was stood down](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/472560/national-mp-sam-uffindell-stood-down-from-caucus-while-more-allegations-investigated) from the party's caucus on 10 August 2022. Prior to that, it was revealed that Uffindell was

Watch: Controversy surrounding Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell could trigger another by-election, costing taxpayers $1.2m. Credits: Newshub. An independent report ...

While this process is underway, Mr Uffindell will be stood down from caucus." I'm not proud of it at all." I was scared." "The National Party received Maria Dew's report late last week. I feared for my safety. He

An investigation into MP Sam Uffindell did not substantiate reports he was a bully after leaving high school, National Party president Sylvia Wood says. He's ...

“Dew found this incident did not occur as it was reported in the media. This time, a former flatmate from his University of Otago days said he [hit on her bedroom door shouting obscenities, including “hit the road, fatty”](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300658051/national-mp-sam-uffindell-stood-down-after-more-allegations-surface). They work for you, not the parties or people in power. Uffindell acknowledged the attack, saying he was “a thug”. He said Uffindell, aged 16 at the time, joined three other older students in a late-night attack at King’s College. Whatever your politics, we can all agree: New Zealand is better off when Kiwis are well-informed. During those weeks, a lawyer has been probing into his past, investigating claims he was a bully through high school and into university. Both Wood and Uffindell said he and the flatmate lived in a “deteriorating” flat. Uffindell said the investigation had “cleared” him. Wood said the investigation found the flatting situation “caused harm” to the complainant. “The investigation concluded the Sam did not engage in the serious behaviour towards his flatmate, that was alleged in the media,” he said. He said he had received “assurances” Uffindell was a changed man.

"We will not be releasing details of the report," said Wood. Credits: Newshub. Embattled National MP Sam Uffindell has been cleared of bullying and welcomed ...

I don't want my tax money going to pay his wages he's been a bully" said another. In August, the freshly minted national MP was revealed to have been a bully. "I was locked in my bedroom because I feared for my safety and he was smashing on my door," the complainant told RNZ in August. "[He was] telling me to get out and hit the road fattie and swearing and I ended up climbing out of my bedroom window," the complainant said. "The last six weeks have been incredibly challenging but I do have the stomach for it," Uffindell said at the press conference. "I am pleased to welcome Sam back into the National Party caucus," leader Christopher Luxon said at a press conference on Monday.

The Tauranga MP admits he has 'a lot of work' to ensure he is re-selected as a candidate.

He has fronted that with a lot of integrity and pain. It later emerged that MP Todd McClay, who chaired National's byelection campaign, had advised one of Luxon's staff but they did not tell Luxon. National Party president Sylvia Wood said the investigation would not be released but the inquiry had taken place between August 15 and September 15. Luxon said he wanted it made public as soon as possible. "I have a lot of respect for Sam. Luxon said he should have been told about it and the party's delegates and the public should also have been told. There were differing accounts and the allegations could not be substantiated. National Party Sylvia Wood has previously said the selection process was run according to the party's rules, but admitted it was now clear the process needed improvement. Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said the resolution of the process would bring a sense of relief to the electorate. On calls to release the report, Greaves said it was a balance between ensuring a safe and confidential environment, and transparency. Robertson said releasing the decision on the day of the Queen's funeral was "cynical" and "pretty disrespectful". Greaves said most reasonable New Zealanders believed in people being able to come back from things in the past, but it would depend on his "political knack and judgment" from here.

Former National Party leader Todd Muller says Sam Uffindell's reinstatement in the Tauranga seat is a “relief”. Muller, the Bay of Plenty BP, said he'd been ...

Issues are as hot as the weather in this beautiful region - we've got a lot to talk about. “He’s been having to talk so publicly about something that he’s deeply unproud of. I think we should all take, very seriously, assault and bullying allegations.” We have to make sure that from a party perspective, it doesn't happen again. The stretched housing market is seeing $1000-a-week rentals now a regular occurance. “If we had the time again, we’d do things very differently,” he said. “But I’m also pleased for Tauranga,” he said. [Sam Uffindell is back in the National Party caucus. If you work hard, over time people form an appreciation of that. “This is a matter for Christopher Luxon and the National party,” said a spokesperson for Tinetti. “This has been a tough process, particularly as it has been so public, and I just wanted to make sure that Sam and Julia were tracking okay. “It’s been a tough few weeks for Sam and his family, and it’s good to have this resolved.

The Tauranga MP said the allegations raised by a former female flatmate were a result of a "genuine breakdown in the flat relationship".

Today, he again expressed his remorse to victims of bullying, saying he deeply regretted his own bullying behaviour. Uffindell acknowledged there was a "genuine breakdown in the flat relationship" and his flatmate had overheard some comments he had made. Uffindell had disputed the allegations, saying he was "genuinely shocked" by the claims.

Former National Party leader Todd Muller says Sam Uffindell's reinstatement in the Tauranga seat is a “relief”. Muller, the Bay of Plenty BP, says he's been ...

“He’s been having to talk so publicly about something that he’s deeply unproud of. I think we should all take, very seriously, assault and bullying allegations.” “This is a matter for Christopher Luxon and the National party,” says a spokesperson for Tinetti. If you work hard, over time people form an appreciation of that. “This has been a tough process, particularly as it has been so public, and I just wanted to make sure that Sam and Julia were tracking okay. “It’s been a tough few weeks for Sam and his family, and it’s good to have this resolved.

Power Play - Voters are being asked to take a leap of faith with the return of MP Sam Uffindell to the National Party fold, Political Editor Jane Patterson ...

In the end, the public will have to take National at its word - after numerous messy scandals involving its MPs and candidates behaving badly. Luxon has accepted Uffindell's assurances he is a changed man, that he deeply regrets his bullying behaviour and the harm it caused. Wood said there were "differing accounts" of what occurred, but added it was "clear the complainant's experience in a deteriorating flat relationship caused her harm". When pressed about what he had said, he demurred, falling back on the line he did not want to discuss any details. Fourteen people were interviewed and it appears another flatmate, present at the time, was the account that tipped the balance towards Uffindell. The report's findings have not been made public, but rather leader Christopher Luxon has released selected parts; one, he said, was Uffindell "did not engage" in the behaviour he was accused of.

OPINION: It's hard to have confidence in the National Party's supposed exoneration of MP Sam Uffindell over allegations of ethical violations as an adult.

He concludes: "The way the report has been presented to the public in substance is as a National Party document for internal purposes. National is also still refusing to release the "terms of reference" that the party gave to Dew when it employed her to investigate Uffindell. As Wills argues, "Reassuring or convincing the public of a particular view requires bringing the public into the process." It is now clear that Uffindell himself volunteered the information to the party's pre-selection panel in Tauranga prior to his byelection campaign. There is no doubt that the use of these processes can be positive. The public, and in particularly the voters of Tauranga, will remain suspicious of him given National isn't willing to be open about what their investigation came up with. Uffindell himself is likely to be disadvantaged by National's decision to keep all the details of the report's investigation under wraps. The big problem with yesterday's announcement is that National is expecting the public to take its word on the investigation and outcome. Given the opaqueness, political journalist Jo Moir says: "It is almost impossible to form a view on whether National leader Christopher Luxon made the right call reinstating Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell back into his caucus." However, by choosing not to be transparent National forfeits credibility on the issue, and risks losing public confidence. None of this has happened, which should make the public suspicious that a whitewash has occurred. It's hard to have confidence in the National Party's supposed exoneration of MP Sam Uffindell over allegations of ethical violations as an adult.

I'm not sure what was more interesting yesterday – the revelation that the Sam Uffindell allegations amounted to nothing and didn't stack up, or the pastin.

At this point I personally would have given up on the press conference, but Luxon reiterated again, that she was conflating two issues. The press gallery by the end of it had delivered what should serve as a warning to Luxon as to how election year might go for him. The reporter may have had a point if Uffindell had not been exonerated, but she seemed to think this showed racism or a double standard.

National MPs say they did not see the investigation report into Sam Uffindell's alleged bullying behaviour or even a summary before voting to reinstate him.

It later emerged that MP Todd McClay, who chaired National's byelection campaign, had advised one of Luxon's staff but they did not tell Luxon. But Maria Dew determined those events did not transpire as they were alleged." Those allegations, reported by RNZ, were that the MP had been an aggressive bully who pounded on a female flatmate's bedroom door, screaming obscenities, until she fled through her window, leaving the house for good. "No one in caucus has, as I understand it. National MP Michael Woodhouse said while he had not seen any of the report nor executive summary before voting to reinstate Uffindell he was "very satisfied with the process". "He has been cleared of the allegations that were laid about his time at the University of Otago." Asked if he would feel comfortable voting on legislation without reading it, Woodhouse said just because he had not seen the report did not mean it was misreported. Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller said he supported the process but admitted he had not seen the report nor a summary. Luxon told media at a separate stand-up that Uffindell had not viewed the report. "Maria Dew said events did not transpire as they were reported or released in the media. Luxon said they made a commitment through the process to make people feel "safe and secure" and releasing any of the report would breach that. Luxon said they were not saying the complainant had lied.