( CNN ) A sexual harassment complaint has been filed against New Zealand Prime Minister John Key after a waitress complained about him repeatedly pulling her ponytail at an Auckland cafe . CNN affiliate TVNZ reported that the complaint was filed Thursday morning by Graham McCready , an accountant described in the New Zealand press as a `` serial litigant , '' who has previously launched private prosecutions against Key . McCready 's complaint claimed that Key had breached a section of the country 's Human Rights Act relating to sexual harassment , TVNZ reported . It reported that he was seeking considerable compensation for the waitress , 26-year-old Amanda Bailey , and `` if she does not want it I ask for the money be given to Women 's Refuge . '' Key publicly apologized to Bailey , a waitress at his local cafe , for repeatedly tugging on her ponytail , after she complained about his behavior in a blog post . The post , published on New Zealand political website The Daily Blog , says that the odd behavior began during last year 's election season . It was `` hardly an acceptable form of greeting , '' Bailey wrote . She wrote that while she did n't directly make her objections clear verbally , her body language `` screamed ' I do n't like that . ' '' `` As he approached me , he thought it would be fitting to raise his hands high and make scary , suspense sound effects , like the music from the movie 'Jaws ' , '' read the post . `` As he towered overhead I slunk down , cringing , whilst ( Key 's wife ) Bronagh told him to 'Leave the poor girl alone . ' '' The behavior carried on for a number of months and on several occasions , the post states . Eventually the cafe 's manager made it clear to Key that his actions were unwelcome . Key , who regularly visits the Auckland cafe with his wife , told reporters that his behavior was in the context of `` a bit of banter , '' but said that he had apologized when it was clear she had taken offense . The blog post says that the prime minister offered the offended waitress two bottles of his own JK 2012 Pinot Noir wine by way of apology . `` We have lots of fun and games there , there 's always lots of practical jokes and things . It 's a very warm and friendly relationship , '' he told reporters in Los Angeles en route to ANZAC day commemorations in Gallipoli , Turkey . `` But if you look at it now , no . When I realized she took offense by that I just sort of immediately went back , gave her some wine , apologized and said I was terribly sorry . '' Politicians and public figures also rounded on Key , with Green MP Metiria Turei saying that the prime minister should be held to the same standards of behavior as the rest of the electorate . `` A lot of New Zealanders know what it 's like to feel as if you 're not taken seriously in a job . As politicians , our job is to make people feel safe at work , not bullied , '' New Zealand media reported her as saying . `` It 's a sign of how out of touch John Key has become when he ca n't even monitor how inappropriate his personal behavior is , and when people are not comfortable with how he is behaving . '' Jackie Blue , head of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission , echoed the sentiment . `` It 's never OK to touch someone without their permission , '' TVNZ reported her as saying . `` There are no exceptions . '' Political analyst Bryce Edwards told the network that the `` strangeness factor '' of the accusation would haunt Key . `` A lot of people will be laughing at John Key , that 's harder to recover from , '' he said in a segment . The National Council of Women of New Zealand , while accepting that Key was joking and did not mean to offend , criticized the premier . `` The fact that our Prime Minister has joined the list of people outed for sexism highlights how much sexism is a part of our culture . And it starts at the top , '' the organization 's chief executive Sue McCabe wrote in an open letter . `` Up and down this country , day after day , people are touched without giving their consent . At one end of the scale , it is an unwelcome pull on a ponytail . At the other end , it 's our shocking levels of violence against women . ''
A sexual harassment complaint has been filed against PM Kiwi after a waitress complained about him repeatedly pulling her ponytail . John Key Prime Minister accused of pulling a waitress ' hair on several occasions despite her obvious discomfort . PM Key later apologized , but said that he was merely engaging in `` banter '' Politicians and public figures have condemned his behavior .