Chris Bishop’s Drunken and Racist Tirade at AMA

The National Party’s Chris Bishop has shown his true colours again, this time stumbling into the spotlight at the Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA) with a bottle in hand and a mouth full of vitriol. Caught on video ranting during Stan Walker’s performance, which included a Haka and Tino Rangatiratanga flag-waving, Bishop couldn’t contain his disdain for a cultural moment led by a musician who had picked up Best Māori Artist and the Mana Reo Award at the 2025 AMAs.

Yesterday, RNZ reported:

 

'What a load of crap': Chris Bishop caught 'ranting' during Stan Walker's Aotearoa Music Awards performance

Cabinet minister Chris Bishop says he should have kept his comments to himself after saying "what a load of crap" during a performance at Thursday night's Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland.

Video footage shows Bishop seated, with a bottle in his hand during pop singer Stan Walker's segment.

Some people in front of him were on their feet dancing and waving tino rangatiratanga, or self-determination, flags.

In a statement to RNZ, Bishop admitted he said something about performative acclaim and said, what a lot of crap. He said it referred to what he called the overtly political branding on display.

 

Bishop’s boorish behaviour isn’t just an embarrassment, it’s a window into a troubling pattern of arrogance and cultural insensitivity that should have New Zealanders questioning his fitness for office.

While Stan Walker’s performance was being enjoyed by the vast majority of the audience, Bishop was there openly disparaging the celebration of Māori culture, dismissing the moment as “performative acclaim” and “a load of crap”. He reportedly told everyone to “sit down” because “the hīkoi was ages ago”. Talk about an idiot! There was a Hīkoi for Health earlier this month.

The disrespect wafting out of Bishop’s rotten mouth was disgusting, and people within his vicinity felt compelled to speak out. Veteran musician Don McGlashan told Bishop off, echoing the thoughts of many within the audience. They were there to celebrate New Zealand music, and an arrogant Chris Bishop was doing his best to ruin the night.

Chris Bishop goes mask off with his racism.

How long before Luxon announces he's "very relaxed" about his MP's comments? https://t.co/if9br0izbN pic.twitter.com/fBurC8mpHT

— Nick (@StrayDogNZ) May 30, 2025

Here’s a Cabinet minister, supposedly a leader, unable to hold his liquor or his tongue, openly sneering at a well-respected award winning musician and his crew because they’re Māori.

This latest episode isn’t just a personal failing, it’s a stain on the National-led government’s credibility. Bishop’s drunken outbust at the AMA demands accountability. If Luxon doesn’t act swiftly to address this misconduct, we know that he has no moral backbone at all.

Allowing a Cabinet minister to undermine New Zealand’s cultural values and embarrass the nation on a public stage is unacceptable. If Bishop cannot uphold the dignity of his office, Luxon should show some leadership and remove him. New Zealand deserves ministers who respect our award winning musicians, not those who slur their way to infamy with racist ranting.