Seymour apologises after using violent rhetoric in email to abuse victim

15 Jun 2026

"Knowing what I now know, I certainly wouldn't have used that phrasing," says David Seymour.

Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has apologised to a woman after he emailed her saying: "Are you ready to accept you've just had a beating?"

Stuff reported the woman suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after escaping a violent relationship, and the words triggered her symptoms.

It said the email exchange began with the woman raising concerns about ACT MP Karen Chhour's spending on airport parking, which was recently revealed to be nearly $17,000 over two years.

The woman wrote it was "revolting behaviour" and a waste of taxpayer money, Stuff reported.

It said there was a back and forth between the pair, in which the woman called Chhour "arrogant and entitled" and Seymour shot back at the woman's "lazy thinking" and for making "false accusations".

Then he said: "Do you have any more arguments, or are you ready to accept you've just had a beating?"

The woman told Stuff that triggered her PTSD symptoms, and she complained to Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee.

Seymour confirmed he had apologised to the woman.

"I chose the wrong words, what I meant was that I'd already given them a fair response, including acknowledging their challenges. Obviously, I had no way of knowing their circumstances other than what they chose to share," he said in a statement.

"I pride myself on answering people's correspondence directly, and in this case even when the correspondence had become rude. Knowing what I now know, I certainly wouldn't have used that phrasing and I've apologised to them."

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