New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis abruptly ended a pre-Budget drinks event in her office after TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman allegedly directed a homophobic slur at Stuff journalist Lloyd Burr.
The incident occurred in May 2025—nearly a year ago—but only became public this week after political commentator Ani O'Brien published details on Substack. According to RNZ, Willis immediately shut down the event and checked on Burr the following day, who indicated he did not want to pursue the matter further.
Mate, this is New Zealand's tight-knit political media world at its most uncomfortable—a slur allegedly thrown in the Finance Minister's office, kept quiet for months, and now exploding into public view.
What happened
The event was a casual gathering hosted by Willis in her parliamentary office, attended by a mix of political journalists and staffers. Such events are common in Wellington's press gallery, serving as informal networking opportunities where journalists and politicians interact off the record.
According to those present, Sherman—TVNZ's most senior political journalist—allegedly used offensive language directed at Burr, who is openly gay. Willis heard the remark and immediately ended the event, a rare and striking move that signalled the seriousness of what had occurred.
The next day, Willis contacted Burr to check on his welfare. In a statement, she said: "He advised me he did not want to take the matter any further." Willis respected that decision, and the incident remained private until this week.
The delayed disclosure
Why did it take nearly a year for this to become public? The answer lies in Wellington's small, insular political-media ecosystem. Journalists, politicians, and staffers all know each other. Raising allegations publicly can have career consequences for everyone involved—the alleged perpetrator, the victim, and those who speak out.
Burr chose not to pursue the matter, which is his right. But the silence also meant there was no accountability, no public reckoning, and no consequences for Sherman—if the allegations are accurate.
Ani O'Brien, the political commentator who broke the story, wrote that the incident had been "an open secret" among Wellington insiders. Her decision to publish forced the issue into the open, sparking debate about media culture, accountability, and whether the press gallery's code of silence protects bad behaviour.
TVNZ's response
TVNZ has refused to comment, citing employment matters. That's standard practice for broadcasters facing allegations about staff, but it's also frustrating for those demanding answers. Sherman remains in her role as political editor, covering the government and interviewing ministers—including, presumably, Willis.
Stuff, Burr's employer, issued a statement backing him: "Stuff Group stands by, and has complete faith in, Lloyd Burr's account of the events and his conduct." The phrasing is careful, but the message is clear: they believe him.
Burr has not commented publicly, and there's no indication he plans to. He appears to have meant it when he told Willis he didn't want to take the matter further.
The broader context
New Zealand prides itself on being progressive, particularly on LGBTQ+ rights. The country legalised same-sex marriage in 2013, has strong anti-discrimination laws, and is generally considered inclusive.
But the press gallery—like many professional environments—has a culture problem. It's dominated by a small group of people who've known each other for years, which fosters camaraderie but also enables bad behaviour to go unchallenged.
This isn't the first time the gallery has faced allegations of misconduct. In recent years, there have been complaints about bullying, sexual harassment, and toxic workplace behaviour. Some cases resulted in departures. Others were quietly buried.
The Sherman-Burr incident fits that pattern: serious allegations, handled privately, with no public accountability. The only difference is that this time, it leaked.
What happens next
TVNZ is under pressure to clarify whether Sherman faced any internal consequences. If the allegations are true, did she receive a warning? Training? Anything? Or was the matter simply dropped because Burr didn't want to escalate?
The broader question is whether New Zealand's political media is willing to confront its culture. The press gallery holds politicians accountable—it's literally their job. But when it comes to their own behaviour, the instinct is often to close ranks and move on.
Willis, to her credit, acted immediately when she heard the slur. She shut down the event and checked on the victim. But her decision to keep the matter private—respecting Burr's wishes—also meant there was no transparency, no accountability, and no deterrent for others.
Mate, there's a whole country down here watching this unfold. And what we're seeing is a system that protects insiders at the expense of accountability. That needs to change.
