Stuart Nash

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = The Honourable

| name = Stuart Nash

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Stuart Nash, 2023.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Stuart Nash in 2023

| order = 9th Minister for Economic Development

| term_start = 1 February 2023

| term_end = 28 March 2023

| primeminister = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor = himself {{small|(as Minister for Economic and Regional Development)}}

| successor = Megan Woods (Acting)

| order1 = 32nd Minister of Forestry

| term_start1 = 6 November 2020

| term_end1 = 28 March 2023

| primeminister1 = Jacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins

| predecessor1 = Shane Jones

| successor1 = Megan Woods (Acting)

| order2 = 11th Minister for Oceans and Fisheries

| term_start2 = 1 February 2023

| term_end2 = 28 March 2023

| primeminister2 = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor2 = David Parker

| successor2 =David Parker (Acting)

| order3 = 39th Minister of Police

| term_start3 = 1 February 2023

| term_end3 = 15 March 2023

| primeminister3 = Chris Hipkins

| predecessor3 = Chris Hipkins

| successor3 = Megan Woods (Acting)

| term_start4 = 26 October 2017

| term_end4 = 6 November 2020

| primeminister4 = Jacinda Ardern

| predecessor4 = Paula Bennett

| successor4 = Poto Williams

| order5 = 9th Minister for Economic and Regional Development

| term_start5 = 6 November 2020

| term_end5 = 1 February 2023

| primeminister5 = Jacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins

| predecessor5 = Phil Twyford {{small|(as Minister for Economic Development)}}
Shane Jones {{small|(as Minister for Regional Economic Development)}}

| successor5 = himself {{small|(as Minister for Economic Development)}}
Kiri Allan {{small|(as Minister for Regional Development)}}

| order6 = 37th Minister of Tourism

| term_start6 = 6 November 2020

| term_end6 = 1 February 2023

| primeminister6 = Jacinda Ardern
Chris Hipkins

| predecessor6 = Kelvin Davis

| successor6 = Peeni Henare

| order7 = 11th Minister of Fisheries

| term_start7 = 26 October 2017

| term_end7 = 6 November 2020

| primeminister7 = Jacinda Ardern

| predecessor7 = Nathan Guy {{small|(as Minister for Primary Industries)}}

| successor7 = David Parker

| order8 = 30th Minister of Revenue

| term_start8 = 26 October 2017

| term_end8 = 6 November 2020

| primeminister8 = Jacinda Ardern

| predecessor8 = Judith Collins

| successor8 = David Parker

| constituency_MP9 = Napier

| parliament9 = New Zealand

| term_start9 = 20 September 2014

| term_end9 = 14 October 2023

| predecessor9 = Chris Tremain

| successor9 = Katie Nimon

| constituency_MP10 = the Labour Party list

| parliament10 = New Zealand

| term_start10 = 8 November 2008

| term_end10 = 26 November 2011

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1967|8}}{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pregnancy-and-childbirth/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500859&objectid=10010520| title=Stuart Nash: Realism, balance needed on adoption| work=The New Zealand Herald| date=11 February 2005}}

| birth_place = Napier, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Labour Party

| spouse = Sarah Nash

| children = 4

| parents = Hal Nash
Jenny Nash

| relatives = Sir Walter Nash (great-grandfather)

| alma_mater = University of Canterbury

| profession = International Business

| website = {{official website|http://stuartnash.co.nz/}}

| religion =

| footnotes =

}}

Stuart Alexander Nash (born August 1967) is a New Zealand politician and lawyer. He was a member of the House of Representatives for Labour Party from {{NZ election link year|2008}} to 2011, and was re-elected in {{NZ election link|2014}} as a representative of Napier electorate. In October 2017 when Jacinda Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand, Nash entered Labour Cabinet, with a portfolios of Police, Revenue, Small Business and Fisheries. On 28 March 2023, following several breaches of conduct, including using his position to attempt to influence police procedures, it was revealed Nash communicated confidential details surrounding a Cabinet meeting to two of his donors, and Nash was removed from all Cabinet positions by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. In early April 2023, Nash confirmed that he would not be contesting {{NZ election link|2023}}.

Nash is the great-grandson of Sir Walter Nash, 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960.

Early, professional, and personal life

Stuart Alexander Nash was born in August 1967 in Napier, to his parents, Jenny and Hal Nash. He is one of the three of four children. Nash grew up in Napier, and he educated at Napier Boys' High School. Nash holds master's degrees in Law, Forestry Science, and Management from the University of Canterbury. Before moving back to his home town of Napier, he was the Director of Strategic Development at Auckland University of Technology.{{cite web| url= http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/mpp/mps/former/49PlibMPsFormerStuartNash1/nash-stuart| title=Former MPs – Stuart Nash| publisher=NZ Parliament}}

He is married to Sarah Nash, and they had four children.{{cite web|last1=Moroney|first1=Roger|title=Stuart Nash: My dream is to end up in a Labour Cabinet|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/stuart-nash-my-dream-is-to-end-up-in-a-labour-cabinet/5QPUDH54KUMC4FOHHGR7PTL4KE/|access-date=3 September 2017|publisher=The New Zealand Herald}}

In March 2024, he and his wife Sarah both purchased a former Napier courthouse with the intention of renovating it into their family home and Airbnb accommodation. Built in 1875, a former courthouse building, who survived from 1931 earthquake (than the Great Depression). For the past 35 years, it served as the local Department of Conservation office. The courthouse was vested in Mana Ahuriri Trust as a part of the Treaty of Waitangi settlement. The trust decided to sell the building in 2023.{{cite news |last1=Sharpe |first1=Marty |title=Stuart Nash buys historic Napier building to turn into family home |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350206417/stuart-nash-buys-historic-napier-building-turn-family-home |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Stuff |date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329093349/https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350206417/stuart-nash-buys-historic-napier-building-turn-family-home |archive-date=29 March 2024}}

Political career

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 49th

|start = {{NZ election link year|2008}}

|end = 2011

|electorate = List

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|list = 36

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 51st

|start = {{NZ election link year|2014}}

|end = 2017

|electorate = Napier

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|list = none

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 52nd

|start = {{NZ election link year|2017}}

|end = 2020

|electorate = Napier

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|list = 11

}}

{{NZ parlbox

|term = 53rd

|start = {{NZ election link year|2020}}

|end = 2023

|electorate = Napier

|party = New Zealand Labour Party

|list = 12

}}

=Early political career=

In {{NZ election link year|2005}}, Nash was a Labour candidate for the safe National seat of Epsom, placing third behind Rodney Hide and Richard Worth; having been directed by then-Prime Minister Helen Clark to ask Labour supporters to vote for the National candidate, Richard Worth, in a strategy designed to defeat ACT MP, Rodney Hide. The tactic didn't work, with Hide winning; though at 9,915 Labour received the highest number of party votes in this electorate since the introduction of the MMP parliamentary system in 1996.{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Epsom |url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-14.html |publisher=Chief Electoral Office |access-date=22 September 2014 |location=Wellington |year=2005}} Placed at number 60 on the party list, Nash failed to get elected.{{cite web |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |url= http://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2005/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=22 September 2014}}

=Election to Parliament on the list=

In 2007, Nash contested the Labour Party selection for Napier seat in 2008 election, but lost to Russell Fairbrother, a list MP and a former Napier electorate MP.{{cite news| url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=128613| title=Battle for Napier| work=Newstalk ZB| date=3 December 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019203831/http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=128613| archive-date=19 October 2008| df=dmy-all}} However, Nash was ranked at number 36 on the party list and was subsequently elected to parliament.{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/e9/html/e9_part3_1.html |title=Party Lists of Successful Registered Parties |publisher=Elections New Zealand |access-date=21 September 2011}}

After becoming a list MP Nash was appointed Labour's spokesperson for Revenue, and associate spokesperson for Trade and Forestry by Labour leader Phil Goff.{{cite news| url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/vote08/4767140a28435.html| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081225120056/http://www.stuff.co.nz/vote08/4767140a28435.html| url-status= dead| archive-date= 25 December 2008| title= Five newcomers to Labour's frontbench| work= Stuff| date= 20 November 2008}} On 15 June 2010, Opposition Leader Phil Goff appointed Nash to be portfolio spokesperson for Forestry, a position formerly held by Mita Ririnui. In February 2011 Phil Goff announced his new caucus line up and Nash was ranked 27th, retaining all his portfolio responsibilities.{{cite press release |title=Labour Party List 2011 |url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1104/S00194/labour-party-list-2011.htm |publisher=New Zealand Labour Party |agency=Scoop |date=10 April 2011 |access-date=10 April 2011}}

=2011–2014=

File:Nashgoff.jpg addressing community groups in 2011]]

In the 2011 general election, Nash contested Napier electorate seat held by National Cabinet Minister Chris Tremain. Nash reduced Tremain's 2008 majority of 9,018 votes by 5,300 votes (the highest reduction achieved against a sitting National electorate MP) but still came second. As well, Nash was ranked 27 on the Labour list, higher than in 2008 but not high enough on the Labour list to return to Parliament as a List MP.{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11047515 |title=Nash sees the positive side| work=Hawke's Bay Today | date=28 November 2011| first=Doug| last=Laing}}

After leaving Parliament, Nash signed on as the chief-of-staff for newly appointed party leader David Shearer. However, Nash resigned after just four months into the job and returned to his home town of Napier, citing the birth of his new child and focusing on winning back the electorate there.{{cite news |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6734372/Shearers-right-hand-man-poised-to-go| title=Shearer's right-hand man poised to go| first=Tracy| last=Watkins| date=13 April 2012| work=The Dominion Post}}

=2014–current: Return to Parliament=

In February 2014, Nash was selected as Labour's candidate for Napier to contest the 2014 general election.{{cite news | url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11204900 | title=Labour confirms Nash as candidate for Napier seat | work=Hawke's Bay Today | date=18 February 2014 | access-date=23 July 2014}} National's Tremain had retired and was succeeded by Wayne Walford, and Nash had a majority of 3,850 votes over Walford.{{cite web |title=Election Results – Napier |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2014/electorate-29.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=4 October 2014 |date=4 October 2014}} The electorate was also contested by Garth McVicar for the Conservative Party, and McVicar's 7,603 votes cut into traditional National Party votes.{{cite news| first=Simon |last=Hendery| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503462&objectid=11328621 |title=Napier returns to Labour, Nash returns to Parliament |work=Hawke's Bay Today |date=20 September 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014}}{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503459&objectid=11329372 |title=Bruce Wills: Crucial factors show the best team won |first=Bruce |last=Wills| work=Hawke's Bay Today |date=22 September 2014 |access-date=22 September 2014}}

Nash retained the Napier electorate in {{NZ election link year|2017}}, increasing his majority and becoming only the second Labour MP after Damien O'Connor to win and hold a seat off the National party this century.{{cite web |url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2017/electorate-details-29.html |title=Official Count Results (2017) – Napier |publisher=Electoral Commission |date=7 October 2017}}

Nash was elected as a Cabinet Minister by the Labour Party caucus following Labour's formation of a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Greens.{{cite web|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/342022/video-who-s-in-who-s-out|access-date=20 October 2017|title=Who's in? Who's out?|date=20 October 2017|work=Radio NZ}} On 26 October, he was appointed as Minister of Police, Revenue, Small Business and Fisheries.{{cite web|title=Ministerial List|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/ministers-and-their-portfolios/ministerial-list|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=26 October 2017}}

During the 2020 general election, Nash retained his seat in Napier by a final margin of 5,856.{{cite web |title=Napier – Official Result |url=https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2020/electorate-details-26.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=12 November 2020 }} On 2 November 2020, Jacinda Ardern announced that Nash would be dropping the Police, Revenue and Fisheries portfolios, and would pick up the Economic and Regional Development, Forestry, and Tourism portfolios, while retaining Small Business.{{cite web |title=Ministerial List for Announcement on Monday |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-11/ministerial-list-2-nov-2020.pdf |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 November 2020 |date=2 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103122141/https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-11/ministerial-list-2-nov-2020.pdf|archive-date=3 November 2020|url-status=live}}

In mid November 2021, Nash claimed that farming advocacy group Groundswell NZ's website promoted racism and vaccine hesitancy in response to a question by ACT Member of Parliament Mark Cameron. When Cameron reiterated his question, Nash told Cameron to avoid posing with someone holding an anti-vaccination sign at a Groundswell protest. In response to Stuart's remarks, Groundswell co-founder Bryce McKenzie emphasised the group's efforts to combat racism and vaccine hesitancy among its ranks. McKenzie added that the group had accepted the resignation of Groundswell member and Tatua Dairy board of directors member Ross Townshend for posting an offensive image depicting Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta as a gang member.{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Rachael |title=Nash says Groundswell stands for 'racist, anti-vax' sentiment |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127032009/nash-says-groundswell-stands-for-racist-antivax-sentiment |access-date=21 November 2021 |work=Stuff |date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119163751/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127032009/nash-says-groundswell-stands-for-racist-antivax-sentiment|archive-date=19 November 2021|url-status=live}}

==2023 ministerial indiscretions and resignation==

In mid–March 2023, Nash resigned as Minister of Police following revelations he asked the Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to appeal a decision Nash felt was too light, a breach of the expectation that the Government remains neutral in regards to operational Police matters.{{cite news|work=Radio New Zealand |date=15 March 2023 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/486012/stuart-nash-has-resigned-as-police-minister-pm-hipkins-says |title=Stuart Nash has resigned as police minister, PM Hipkins says |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316224926/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/486012/stuart-nash-has-resigned-as-police-minister-pm-hipkins-says|archive-date=16 March 2023|url-status=live}} On 16 March, Nash faced further calls from the opposition National and ACT parties to resign from his remaining portfolios after revelations that the Attorney-General David Parker had reprimanded Nash for making remarks during a 2020 Newstalk ZB interview calling for murder suspect Eli Epiha to be imprisoned for his actions during the murder of Matthew Hunt. At the time, Epiha was facing trial and had not yet been convicted for murdering Hunt.{{cite news |last1=Wade |first1=Amelia |title=Stuart Nash back under fire: Solicitor-General considered charging minister over 2020 cop killer comments |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/03/stuart-nash-back-under-fire-solicitor-general-considered-charging-minister-over-2020-cop-killer-comments.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=Newshub |publisher=Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand |date=16 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316215604/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/03/stuart-nash-back-under-fire-solicitor-general-considered-charging-minister-over-2020-cop-killer-comments.html |archive-date=16 March 2023|url-status=dead}} Nash subsequently admitted to a third incident of misconduct where he contacted the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to advocate for a migrant health professional in Napier in September 2022. In response, Hipkins demoted Nash to the bottom of the Cabinet rankings as a "final warning" but declined to strip him of his remaining cabinet portfolios.{{cite news |title=Stuart Nash demoted to bottom of Cabinet, now on his 'final warning' – Hipkins |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/486178/stuart-nash-demoted-to-bottom-of-cabinet-now-on-his-final-warning-hipkins |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=17 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317033559/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/486178/stuart-nash-demoted-to-bottom-of-cabinet-now-on-his-final-warning-hipkins |archive-date=17 March 2023|url-status=live}}

On 28 March it was revealed that in 2020 Nash emailed two of his donors, who were commercial property owners, about a commercial rent relief policy Cabinet was discussing.{{cite news|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/486897/fresh-revelation-of-cabinet-rule-breach-leads-to-stuart-nash-s-sacking|title=Fresh revelation of Cabinet rule breach leads to Stuart Nash's sacking|work=Radio New Zealand|date=28 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418084349/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/486897/fresh-revelation-of-cabinet-rule-breach-leads-to-stuart-nash-s-sacking|archive-date=18 April 2023|url-status=live}} The Cabinet Manual, part of New Zealand's unwritten constitution,{{cite web |title=Cabinet Manual |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual |website=dpmc.govt.nz |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |accessdate=28 March 2023 |language=en-NZ |date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520195535/https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual|archive-date=20 May 2023|url-status=live}} sets out that "discussion at Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings is informal and confidential", and that any proposals “likely to be considered at forthcoming meetings, outside Cabinet-approved consultation procedures” are not allowed to be disclosed. In the email, Nash expressed his view that "I am as annoyed (and surprised) about the final outcome of the ‘commercial rent relief package’ as you are".{{cite news|last=Malpass|first=Luke|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131627166/stuart-nash-sacked-as-minister-after-email-to-donors-emerged|title=Stuart Nash sacked as minister after email to donors emerged|work=Stuff|date=28 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608072633/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/131627166/stuart-nash-sacked-as-minister-after-email-to-donors-emerged|archive-date=8 June 2023|url-status=live}} Prime Minister Chris Hipkins advised the Governor General to strip Nash of his ministerial portfolios the same day.{{cite news|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/28-03-2023/in-full-the-pms-statement-on-nash-sacking|title=In full: The PM's statement on Nash sacking|work=The Spinoff|date=28 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404171928/https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/28-03-2023/in-full-the-pms-statement-on-nash-sacking|archive-date=4 April 2023|url-status=live}}

On 3 April, Nash announced that he would not be contesting the 2023 New Zealand general election. In a statement published on Facebook, he stated while his work as a minister in the Ardern Cabinet "has been rewarding, and both intellectually and professionally stimulating, it has also been incredibly taxing on relationships with family and friends." Prior to Nash's announcement, Hipkins had asked the Cabinet Secretary to conduct a review into communications between Nash and his donors in order to identify further breaches of Cabinet confidentiality and both perceived or real conflicts of interest.{{cite news |last=Ensor |first=Jamie |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/stuart-nash-to-stand-down-from-politics-at-election.html |title=Stuart Nash to stand down from politics at election |date=3 April 2023 |work=Newshub |publisher=Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403071433/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/stuart-nash-to-stand-down-from-politics-at-election.html|archive-date=3 April 2023|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Labour MP Stuart Nash will leave politics at October election |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/487255/labour-mp-stuart-nash-will-leave-politics-at-october-election |access-date=3 April 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403071728/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/487255/labour-mp-stuart-nash-will-leave-politics-at-october-election |archive-date=3 April 2023}} Despite his dismissal, on 26 April 2023 Nash was granted the use of the prefix "The Honourable" for life, in recognition of his term as a Member of the Executive Council.{{cite news |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2023-vr1744 |title=Retention of the title "The Honourable" |date=27 April 2023 |work=New Zealand Gazette |accessdate=27 April 2023}}

On 16 June, a Cabinet Office report cleared Nash of confidentiality breaches but identified a conflict of interest in the government appointment of a donor and high school friend Phil McCaw, who had donated the sum of NZ$6500 to Nash's 2020 election campaign. While Nash had managed McCaw's conflict of interest by getting another minister to appoint McCaw but failed in the continual management of the problem.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Anneke |title=Stuart Nash did not share confidential information with other donors, probe finds |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/492084/stuart-nash-did-not-share-confidential-information-with-other-donors-probe-finds |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616075757/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/492084/stuart-nash-did-not-share-confidential-information-with-other-donors-probe-finds |archive-date=16 June 2023|url-status=live}} Newshub reported that the Cabinet office had examined five years worth of Nash's communications and that a senior minister had disputed the inclusion of McCaw's appointment within the probe.{{cite news |last1=Lynch |first1=Jenna |title=Exclusive: Stuart Nash investigation turns up another donor issue – inclusion in probe disputed by a senior minister |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/06/exclusive-stuart-nash-investigation-turns-up-another-donor-issue-inclusion-in-probe-disputed-by-a-senior-minister.html |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=Newshub |date=16 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616164732/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/06/exclusive-stuart-nash-investigation-turns-up-another-donor-issue-inclusion-in-probe-disputed-by-a-senior-minister.html |archive-date=16 June 2023|url-status=dead}} On 19 June, the Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier found that Nash had breached Official Information Act by improperly withholding emails in which he discussed confidential Cabinet briefings with two donors, Troy Bowker and Greg Loveridge, during the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020.{{cite news |last1=McKenzie |first1=Pete |title=Stuart Nash breached official information laws – Ombudsman |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/stuart-nash-breached-official-information-laws-ombudsman |access-date=19 June 2023 |work=Newsroom |date=19 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628033956/https://www.newsroom.co.nz/stuart-nash-breached-official-information-laws-ombudsman|archive-date=28 June 2023|url-status=live}}

Post-politics

In late February 2024, Nash criticised his former Labour Party colleagues's legislation targeting gang assets, claiming that it did not go far enough. In March 2023, the Labour government had passed the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2023, which allowed Police to seize gang leaders' properties, cars, bikes and bling valued at NZ$30,000 or above in compliance with the New Zealand Bill of Rights. Nash argued that there should be no limit on the amount of gang assets seized. Nash claimed that former Justice Minister Kiri Allan had blocked efforts to introduce tougher anti-gang legislation on the grounds that it targeted Māori people. Nash pressed for the National-led coalition government to do away with the $30,000 limit on the seizure of gang assets.{{cite news |last1=Moir |first1=Jo |title=Stuart Nash claims Labour Cabinet softened its gang asset seizure policy |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/510204/stuart-nash-claims-labour-cabinet-softened-its-gang-asset-seizure-policy |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416111720/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/510204/stuart-nash-claims-labour-cabinet-softened-its-gang-asset-seizure-policy |archive-date=16 April 2024}} In response, Labour MP Willie Jackson accused Nash of grandstanding, "lacking class" and pitching for contracts around Wellington.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Russell |title=Labour dismissive of Stuart Nash criticism over gang asset seizures: 'He's got no class' |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/510299/labour-dismissive-of-stuart-nash-criticism-over-gang-asset-seizures-he-s-got-no-class |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=RNZ |date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305135819/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/510299/labour-dismissive-of-stuart-nash-criticism-over-gang-asset-seizures-he-s-got-no-class |archive-date=5 March 2024|url-status=live}}

In April 2025, amid rumours that he was considering contesting the next general election as a New Zealand First candidate, Nash confirmed that he was no longer a member of the Labour Party and did not deny the rumours.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/former-labour-mp-stuart-nash-not-ruling-out-running-for-nz-first-at-next-election/CXEEAFO32JHFBHNY42KXMBTYHY/ |title=Former Labour MP Stuart Nash not ruling out running for NZ First at next election |date=11 April 2025 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Thomas |last=Coughlan}}