Michael Laws

saying "I apologise to the governor-general for comments which were upon reflection uncharitable and inappropriate. Laws has spent time in both 2008 and 2009 on leave from his mayoral duties because of his daughter's health. He also said that while he reserved "the right to be controversial and outspoken" his "off-air comments in particular crossed the line from puckish to insulting.

He is a Radio Live morning talkback host and a longstanding Sunday Star-Times columnist. He was elected as Mayor of Wanganui in 2004 was re-elected in 2007 but announced his retirement from the mayoralty for the October 2010 elections.