Benjamin Doyle admits ‘I was politically naive’ in refusing to delete social posts

Wednesday, 9 April 2025

Green Party MP Benjamin Doyle has refused to back down over deleted social media posts attacked by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, and in the face of death threats.

Doyle returned to Parliament on Wednesday after more than a week away, having been subjected to a slew of death threats and abuse, in part prompted by Peters’ question of the MP’s suitability for Parliament.

At a press conference in Parliament’s “Rainbow Room”, a select committee room which celebrates LGBTQI+ MPs, Doyle said they knew they would “face prejudice and homophobia” when coming to Parliament but “I could never imagine or prepare myself to be attacked in such a baseless, personal, and violent way”.

The press conference ended abruptly after Doyle walked off, 20 minutes into questions and after a Green Party minder repeatedly called for last questions.

“I am here to bring my full self into Parliament and to represent my communities in the most authentic way possible. This is why when I was advised by the party to delete the page before coming to Parliament, I chose not to,” Doyle said.

“I can admit that I was politically naive, and we have paid a huge price for this naivety. I refuse to be disappeared by hate.”

Peters raised questions about Doyle’s now deleted social media posts, some of which featured Doyle’s child, as screenshots of the posts circulated on social media alongside unsubstantiated claims about Doyle.

Peters said “there is enough in those posts for the police to make an inquiry as to whether they breach the law or not”.

It’s understood the police have been involved in dealing with the threats towards Doyle.

The screenshots of a personal Instagram page operated by Doyle titled “biblebeltbussy” ‒ bussy being a portmanteau of “boy” and “pussy” used within the LGBTQI+ community ‒ include one showing Doyle’s child and the caption “bussy galore”.

The Post today revealed the identity of the businessman and former NZ First member who is behind the social media account which had unearthed Doyle’s posts, and called for more information on Doyle.

The account relentlessly targeted political opponents with slurs, smears, and thinly veiled allegations. There is no evidence suggesting NZ First is involved with the account and the party said Williams is not a current member.

Doyle said they had been informed of this account’s identity not long before the press conference, and ‒ when asked if legal action was considered ‒ said they were aware there were “multiple avenues” that could be taken but no decisions had been made.

They said a “kanohi ki te kanohi”, or face-to-face, meeting with Peters was sought to have a “restorative“ conversation with the deputy prime minister.

“We can't resolve anything through bickering or in the media.”

Peters, in a social media post responding to Doyle’s press conference, said “the posts were “problematic” for their content not because of what Doyle identifies as or what sexuality [they] might be“.

“Doyle knows this. The Green Party knows this. Where is the responsibility? Where is the accountability?”

Doyle said they had been targeted, “both my identity as a queer and non-binary parent and my public platform as an outspoken member of parliament.

“In particular, images of my child from my private Instagram account have been taken without permission, removed from their original context, and shared online in misleading and manipulative ways.”

They said “bussy” was “not a term all rainbow people use or like, but it is one that is commonly understood and appreciated by my friends and community”.

“For me, this term is wordplay, and represents the combination of my masculine and feminine qualities as a non-binary person – someone whose gender doesn’t fit into a strict category.

“It’s also a satirical in-joke with references to pop music, drag culture, Bond novels and 1960s cinema, made about myself with people who know me in mind.”

Doyle identifies as gender non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. They are a Hamilton-based list MP who entered Parliament in 2024 after former Green MP Darleen Tana was ousted amid claims of migrant exploitation at her husband’s bicycle business.