National's newest MP has admitted he was kicked out of his boarding school as a teenager for beating a younger student.
Sam Uffindell says he punched another boy "multiple times" during his high school days. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter
Sam Uffindell was elected to Parliament in June after winning the Tauranga by-election.
In a statement, Uffindell said he punched a boy in the arm and body "multiple times" when he was a student at King's College.
Uffindell, who was in the fifth form (year 11) at the time, punched the 13-year-old in his boarding school dorm, he said.
He was with other students at the time, he added.
Uffindell said he had no recollection of using anything other than his fists during the incident.
"We were subsequently asked to leave the school," Uffindell said.
A spokesperson for the National Party confirmed Uffindell had informed the party about the incident during the candidate selection process for the Tauranga by-election.
"It was a significant event reflecting a serious error of judgement by a then 16-year-old for which he has apologised and regrets to this day," the spokesperson said.
The MP described it as "one of the stupidest things" he has ever done and said he "deeply regrets" beating the student.
After spending more than a decade working overseas, Uffindell said he contacted the person when he returned to New Zealand and apologised for the harm caused.
"We had a long conversation and I was grateful that he accepted my apology. My apology was genuine then and it is genuine now."
He said he apologised to the victim last year, 22 years since the attack - and nine months before he announced his candidacy in the by-election.
Uffindell told Checkpoint he would be discussing his future with National party members tomorrow 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 denied that he called the victim of the attack to apologise as part of his preparation to be an MP.
He said as leader, Christopher Luxon was not on the pre-selection committee, and he did not think Luxon knew.
Asked why it had only emerged into the public arena now, he said today was the first time he has been asked to comment on it.
He had disclosed it fully and it was his "duty to the party" to be honest about it, he said.
RNZ has approached National leader Christopher Luxon for comment.
