Associate Housing Minister Aflred Ngaro has refused to provide examples of how the media had manufactured the housing crisis, or to apologise for the claim.
The Minister made the comments in a previous speech to a National party conference, but Mr Ngaro on Tuesday could not provide one example of how the media had created the crisis.
He also said: "We have to push back against some of the media."
Three's The Nation broke the story about people sleeping in cars as the housing crisis hit Auckland, Mr Ngaro would not comment on whether that was an example of the media manufacturing a story.
"I apologise for the words I have said, they were ill considered" Mr Ngaro said. "The words were wrong."
When asked if that was an apology to the media he replied: "It's an apology to all those people who I've affected."
"My comments and what I've said have let down the team, have let down the caucus and the Cabinet."
In the same speech, Mr Ngaro hinted that Labour list candidate Willie Jackson could lose support for his interest in a charter school if he criticised the National party.
He said his speech was "out of character" and he's glad to have the support of his colleagues and Prime Minister Bill English.
"I'm very privileged to able to have the trust and confidence of the Prime Minister," he said.
Newshub.
