Controversial Canadian speaker Stefan Molyneux has argued Jacinda Ardern "will be a less good mother" by returning to the role of Prime Minister, claiming his own nine years as a stay-at-home dad for authority on the issue.
Speaking to TVNZ's Sunday program, Molyneux clarified he didn't say Ardern couldn't be "a good mum" broadly, but the time restraints of being an effective politician will mean she can't be there for daughter Neve as much as she needs to.
"She will be a less good mother. I've been a stay at home dad for nine years. I know how much parenting takes out of you," Molyneux said.
"I know how much time you have to spend with your children and you simply can't do both jobs as well. You cannot be as effective a politician as you can be as good a mother."
"I didn't say she wasn't a good mum. I said she can't be as good a mum, obviously right?"
Questioned on what being a good mother actually requires, Molyneux said: "Well, you're there for your children" and that meant being at home, not the workplace.
Last Friday, Molyneux had an Auckland event with fellow Canadian speaking partner Lauren Southern cancelled after owner of the Powerstation venue pulled out at the last minute.
Molyneux and Southern say the venue owner had told them he had been threatened.
The pair, who have been variously described as both alt-right, and free speech advocates, have caused huge controversy in New Zealand ever since Auckland Mayor Phil Goff refused them access to a council owned venue in July.
In one of their parting interviews with New Zealand media, Molyneux said the inability to breastfeed when needed would compromise Ardern's job as a mother.
Canadian far-right commentators Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux have brought their controversial message to our doorstep and sparked a debate about what’s free speech and what’s hate speech.
"For instance breast feeding is recommended for 18 months. More breastfeeding leads to higher intelligence, better parent/child bond and so on," he said.
"You can't breastfeed and be as successful a business person as a man who's not involved in that."
"We're not breast feeding and there's just not that same bond and unity with the mom. Please understand, I'm not saying women should all have babies and stay home.
"I'm just saying it's a simple basic fact - there are only so many hours in the day and if you spend 10 hours a day working, that's 10 hours a day you're not spending with your children.
"Your children are where? in a daycare being cared for by people who are coming and going."
Molyneux was also keen to stress he didn't think any less of a stay at home mum's role, compared to being in the workforce, but that the two roles were incompatible.
"Is that bad? Is that wrong? Is that negative compared to a career?" he said.
Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux gave an in-depth interview to 1 NEWS.
SHARE ME