National's newest MP Sam Uffindell has acknowledged he was asked to leave Auckland's Kings College 23 years ago for his part in a vicious assault against a younger student, after the story was published in the media.
Uffindell told Checkpoint his attack on a third former while at school in 1999 is easily the "dumbest stupidest and most regretful thing I've ever done".
He said he hit the student with his fists, not a weapon, while with other senior students raiding the third form dormitory room. Uffindell said Monday was the first day someone reached out to him about it.
He said he told the National Party in April 2022, while applying for candidacy in Tauranga.
"I detailed in writing what I had done. I also detailed that I regretted it hugely and I'd reached out and apologised to the person."
He acknowledged that he had disclosed the event fully to the National Party. He said as leader Christopher Luxon was not on the pre-selection committee he does not think Luxon knew.
On Uffindell's future, he said he will talk to party members on Tuesday in Wellington.
"I will have those discussions with our team down there. I'm going to go down there and chat with our team and we'll see where it lands."
He denies that he called the victim of the attack to apologise as part of his preparation to be an MP.
