Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford has hit out at a NZ Herald columnist, comparing her to the "bottom feeding fish" on an upcoming episode of his TV show.
The column called 'Why does Clarke Gayford bug me?' by Deborah Hill Cone was promoted with a 'breaking news' banner by NZME on Monday morning.
"There's something about our First Bloke that keeps nagging me every time I see his cheerful face," she writes, before proceeding to list reasons why.
She said the photo of him posing with other spouses of the leaders of the Commonwealth was "cringey" and he gives her "a little bit of acid reflux".
She criticised him for seemingly enjoying being the spouse of Ms Ardern, saying he "seems to lap the attention up, like the political equivalent of manspreading".
Mr Gayford has hit back, after he and the Prime Minister recently returned from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
"And welcome back to NZ - lol. Here's some other bottom feeding fish who I'd never met which feature as breaking news this weds 8pm on Prime TV, FISH OF THE DAY. - in the stunning COROMANDEL," Mr Gayford tweeted.
Newshub.