Labour MP apologises over gay comments

Labour MP Damien O'Connor has apologised to party leader Phil Goff for saying the party's list selection was dominated by unionists and a "gaggle of gays".

The Labour Party today has had to defend its list process following Mr O'Connor's comments, which Mr Goff said were wrong and inappropriate.

"I thought his terminology was unfortunate and it was inaccurate. If he had something that he wanted to say he is welcome to say it to his colleagues and to me.

"I don't think it was helpful that he expressed his frustration publicly, rather than immediately to his colleagues."

Mr O'Connor, currently a list MP, did not appear on the Labour Party list for the November election released yesterday. He told media he had stood aside because he did not trust the ranking process, which he said was dominated by "self-serving unionists and a gaggle of gays".

He would instead contest the West Coast-Tasman seat, currently held by National's Chris Auchinvole.

Mr O'Connor this morning stood by the comments, and said a number of people had been overlooked in the ranking process.

"Provincial MPs in the Labour Party have ended up being isolated ... there's a risk that then the party doesn't represent the wider New Zealand," he said.

Mr Goff said Mr O'Connor apologised to him this morning, and he expected him to repeat his apology to caucus tomorrow.

"I think it was a result of the disappointment that he should have been higher placed on the list, and I think in terms of his qualities he should have been.

"But that doesn't justify the nature of the comment he made and he regrets making it in that way."

Mr Goff and Party president Moira Coatsworth defended the list process, calling it democratic.

Ms Coatsworth said the list reflected the diversity of the party, and that the provincial argument did not stack up.

"When people are disaffected they attack a process or they attack people. If there was any truth to that, you wouldn't being seeing me being elected as president," she said.

"The party is a broad-based party and I think that is one of our strengths."

The list ranked former party president and Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union secretary Andrew Little at number 15.

The next highest ranked non-MP was Maori political adviser Deborah Mahuta-Coyle, at No 26, with Labour's Botany by-election candidate Michael Wood at No 32.

Mr Goff said the ranking was based on merit and he would stand by the top five and top 10 non-MPs, while Ms Coatsworth said Mr Little's place was well-earned.

"I've been working with Andrew for the last two years, he's got a formidable intellect, he's got senior leadership experience in New Zealand and he's got a really in-depth understanding of low-paid workers in the manufacturing sector."