MP's comment upsets Tongan Law Society

ACT MP David Garrett's explanation of the lewd remark he made to a woman staff member has landed him in trouble with the Tongan Law Society.

The first term MP has been reprimanded by ACT leader Rodney Hide for the remark he made to the staff member in the party's parliamentary office and has apologised for it.

But when he was explaining his plight on TV One's Q&A programme on Sunday, he said this: "I now understand very clearly that the kind of thing that might have been okay in a law firm in Tonga is not okay in Parliament."

Mr Garrett has worked in Tonga as a lawyer, and has a practice there.

TV One reported tonight the Tongan legal community was upset about his remark and one prominent lawyer had made an official complaint to New Zealand's High Commissioner.

It said the Tongan Law Society's executive committee would meet tomorrow to decide what action to take over it.

Mr Hide's office said tonight the ACT leader was aware concerns had been expressed by the Tongan legal community.

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni called on Mr Garrett to apologise to the Tongan community.

"The comment has angered members of the Tongan community in New Zealand as well, and rightly so given he appears to be suggesting that what may be considered sexual harassment here is an acceptable practice in Tonga," Ms Sepuloni said.

"The suggestion that women in Tonga would find such behaviour less offensive than women here is absolutely inappropriate."