Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she ended a pre-Budget drinks event in her Beehive office last year after hearing offensive language, amid allegations that a homophobic slur was used during an exchange between senior political journalists.
The incident is alleged to have involved TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman and Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr during a gathering in Willis’ office in May 2025. According to reporting published by RNZ, Willis said she had briefly stepped out of the room and returned to hear offensive language being used, prompting her to shut the event down immediately
The allegation first gained wider public attention after political commentator Ani O’Brien wrote about it on Substack, claiming Sherman had used a homophobic slur against Burr during the function. RNZ then reported Willis’ account of the event, while other outlets have since followed the story.
Willis said in a statement that she was “out of the room for a few minutes and returned to hear offensive language being used” and that she ended the gathering at that point.
