National MP Sam Uffindell, who recently sparked controversy after saying he grocery shops once a month to give his "wife a break", says he knows his "place now".
During his speech in support of the Grocery Industry Competition Bill in June, the MP for Tauranga revealed he sometimes gets out "there and takes the shopping list off my wife and go out there and fill up the trolley".
"Not only is it an excellent way to get a bit of publicity with a National Party jacket on my back, looking like the everyday man… it gives my wife a break, and I get to understand what the current prices are," he said in the House.
On Tuesday, Uffindell was pressed on his comments.
He said he'd like to do more and previously did, but the nature of his role holds him back and believes it "is something that all 120 MPs" will experience too.
"I'm away a lot, I work 80 odd hours a week and just don't get to be home as much. So it's natural that Jules picks up a lot more stuff at home."
When asked to reflect on his comment and if he thought they were sexist, he again pointed to "the nature of my job".
"I work a huge amount. Before I came to politics I used to do most of it because I did most of the cooking too - but that's just the way things have changed. I've got a wonderful wife Jules and I'm very grateful for all she does."
He did admit when he got home, Jules gave "me a bit of stick for that, so I know my place now".
"She's given me a bit of stick about it and we've had that talk so ah she's put me in my place."
When it came to the wearing of his National Party jacket for publicity, Uffindell said during the election campaign period he's got the jacket on - "it's just part of my uniform".
A mere moments later, National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell told Newshub he likes doing the shopping and probably does it "every second day".
"For me personally I actually quite enjoy the shopping, we don't do big shops, we do it every second day and decide what we have."
Mitchell believed in the context in which Uffindell made his grocery shopping comments, they were not sexist.
"I think he was just trying to highlight the fact he wanted to provide some spousal support," Mitchell said.
"I just think it was a very genuine comment by him to say that this is the way he supports his wife in recognition of the fact that she's working hard supporting the family."
National MP for Hamilton West Tama Potaka "goes to the supermarket all the time actually" and said his wife "hates shopping".
"I like doing the shopping and I go do shopping all the time (sic), she likes doing the lawns, she likes lawn mowing. But now and again we chop and change."
National MP Judith Collins said she "never likes to get between a husband and wife" and said it's important to remember how whanāu share their "domestic arrangements".
"I'm sure his wife's dealt with it."
