rights of New Zealanders' were being "denigrated by a sorry pack of misogynist troglodytes from Wogistan, threatening our way of life and security of travel in the name of their stone age religion, its barbaric attitudes towards women, democracy, and individual choice". Prosser wrote that "Abdul" should not be allowed to fly, and should instead "go ride a camel". It subsequently emerged that Prosser's column was written after a pocket-knife he was carrying had been confiscated by airport security. NZ First leader Winston Peters initially said that he would not apologise for Prosser's conduct, that he had been writing in his capacity as a columnist, as opposed to an MP, that Prosser stood by his statements, and that he had spoken to Prosser about the article as the article "lacked balance". Subsequently, Prosser came under criticism from the Government and Opposition parties for the content of his article. Prosser stated that his intention had been to draw attention to the issue of passenger profiling at airports, and stated that his writing style was intentionally one of a "shock jock". He initially refused to apologise, but later admitted his article lacked balance, apologising for the offence that he had caused. He stated he would not continue to write for Investigate magazine. In March 2013 the United Nations' Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it "regrets" Prosser's remarks, and "welcomes the strong criticism of such statements by the Minister of Justice and Ethnic Affairs and the Race Relations Commissioner, among others". Personal life As of 2011, Prosser's partner was Mel Francis, and the two had a two-year-old daughter and another child on the way. Prosser died in London, England, on 10 June 2022, aged 55. References External links Biography of Richard Prosser at the New Zealand Parliament 1967 births 2022 deaths New Zealand First MPs New Zealand Democratic Party for Social Credit politicians Anti-Islam sentiment in Oceania New Zealand list MPs Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives Unsuccessful candidates in the 2005 New Zealand general election 21st-century New Zealand politicians Unsuccessful candidates in the 2017 New Zealand general election New Zealand conspiracy theorists People from the Auckland Region