Collins calls Cunliffe sexist over 'trout' barb

Justice Minister Judith Collins. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Cabinet Minister Judith Collins has accused Labour leader David Cunliffe of sexism after he referred to her as a "trout" in an opinion piece.

Mr Cunliffe made the comment in a blog post on the website The Ruminator this afternoon.

He wrote: "The original brief was to respond to a post by Judith Collins. My post was going to be about snapper, not trout. But considering that issue, along with Judith's leadership aspirations, has floundered, I'll try another hook."

Asked to respond on Twitter, Mrs Collins said: "Imagine the outcry from Labour if one of Nat male MPs called a Labour woman a trout."

@mizjwilliams @DavidCunliffeMP @RuminatorNZ Imagine the outcry from Labour if one of Nat male MPs called a Labour woman a trout #sexist

When challenged on her comment, she accused Mr Cunliffe of being a "recidivist sexist" and added: "It's a sexist comment and you'd certainly know that if one of [National's] male MPs said it."

Mr Cunliffe has previously apologised for making a sexist remark about the minister. He told Radiolive in 2011 that the human species would be extinct if Mrs Collins was the last woman on earth.

He later said the comment was in bad taste.