Prime Minister John Key is standing by his party's candidate for the Mt Albert by-election after she suggested a new motorway there will keep South Auckland criminals out.
List MP Melissa Lee has now "unreservedly" apologised for her remark about the controversial Waterview connection, which Mr Key says was "silly".
Ms Lee made the comment at a candidates' meeting on Wednesday night, the same day the Transport Agency revealed its proposal - a mixture of deep tunnels, open motorway and covered cuts to link the southwestern and northwestern motorways.
Ms Lee is standing by her belief that motorways prevent crime when they go through suburbs because criminals are more likely to drive past.
However, says she did not mean to imply that everyone in South Auckland is a criminal.
Mr Key says it is wholly appropriate that Ms Lee has apologised and suggested that she was provoked to make it in the heat of the campaign.
Labour Party leader Phil Goff says Ms Lee's comments are ridiculous and Mr Key should be questioning his own judgement in favouring her for the candidacy.
The by-election will be held on 13 June to fill the seat vacated by former prime minister Helen Clark, who now works for the United Nations.
Angry backlash in South Auckland
Ms Lee's comments have provoked an angry backlash and have been condemned by community leaders in Manukau City and members of the Pacific population outside Auckland.
The Asian Ethnic Network is calling her comments divisive, dumb and racist.
Leautuli Peter Skelton, of the Mangere Community Board, says Ms Lee has angered South Aucklanders - particularly the Pacific community.
Mr Skelton says it is a bad look for the National Party, which he says risks further alienating Pacific Island people.
Mele Heketoa, of the Otara Community Board, says Ms Lee's comments reveal her true person and, despite her apology, the damage has been done.
Ms Heketoa says Mr Key must discipline Ms Lee, saying she is not fit to represent a community.
Electoral Commission investigates ads
On Wednesday, Ms Lee fended off allegations about National Party campaign ads her company produced last year.
The Electoral Commission is assessing a complaint that a National Party ad produced by Ms Lee's company should have been declared as an expense.
The National Party's secretary says it was not declared because it did not cost any money.
New Zealand On Air is reviewing documents on Thursday to see if any of its funding was used to make the ads.
Chief executive Jane Wrightson says at this stage, it appears none of its funding was used.
