The Prime Minister has responded to Simon Bridges' quip about her at-home hair dye job, and even had a fellow minister jump to her defence.
Jacinda Ardern's fiance Clarke Gayford said on Sunday in a tweet he'd dyed his partner's hair and cut their daughter Neve's locks.
Then on Monday evening, Bridges got a haircut from a barber and said: "Well, there's no hair dye. Just saying."
While Ardern was in Rotorua on Tuesday, she was asked by media what she thought of his comment.
"Probably I'm not alone in being someone in New Zealand who dyes their hair, so I think I'm in fairly good company," she replied.
Māori Development Minister Nanaia Mahuta jumped to her defence, saying Ardern is "more worried about the substance of her character" and that is what should be focussed on.
Ardern was in Rotorua to discuss with tourism leaders how their industry can recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday morning, The AM Show co-host Ryan Bridge got a terse response from Ardern after he questioned why she was dying her hair. He asked her if it was "going grey or something".
"Never... never... never... that's not a polite question to ask, I'd say anyone - I was about to say a lady - but anyone, actually," Ardern responded.
"It's just a little touch-up, Ryan. No reason."
Perhaps worried he had offended the Prime Minister, Bridge assured her it "looked good".
"I only mention the grey hair because you are the Prime Minister and it does tend to age people. No harm intended, alright?" he added.
Ardern agreed. "No, it does, it does, I fully acknowledge that," she replied. "Yep. Thank you for the reminder."
