Prime Minister John Key says that Aaron Smith has "clearly let himself and those close to him down".

Prime Minister John Key says that Aaron Smith has "clearly let himself and those that are close to him down," following an indiscretion with a woman in a public toilet.

The All Blacks star was seen entering a disabled toilet with a female after the test against the Springboks in Christchurch last month.

He was sent home from South Africa by the All Blacks touring party after the team learned of the incident.

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"I suspect he'll be sitting back, reflecting on the fact he's let himself down, he's let the team down, he's an integral part of the All Blacks so he won't want to be sitting on the sidelines, and frankly, he's embarrassed himself a bit," Key said.

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"They do a lot to try and prove to young New Zealanders that they're the sort of people to look up to - that's why I think Aaron will feel pretty disappointed in himself.

"I think the rugby union, coming off the back of a couple of other pretty poor PR issues in recent times, will want to make sure they send a strong message to the All Blacks that they have a high level of expectation in their behaviour."

'REALLY DUMB, BUT CONSENSUAL'

GETTY IMAGES Aaron Smith leads the haka in Christchurch the day before his rendezvous with a woman at a Christchurch airport toilet.

Louise Nicholas, one of many signatories to an open letter calling for New Zealand Rugby to address a culture of misogyny, was heartened by the decision to send him home but was left disappointed by the revelations involving the halfback.

"You've got to remember that, from what I've read, it was consenting adults - inappropriate act, completely inappropriate place, really dumb, but consensual," she said.

New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin was also a signatory of the open letter following the Chiefs debacle, and was disappointed by the "unacceptable" incident.

FACEBOOK/TEAGAN VOYKOVICH Aaron Smith on a trip with girlfriend Teagan Voykovich.

"I don't want to put his behaviour on par with [the Chiefs incident], but: you put your jersey on, you should keep your trousers on, too."

Labour's Women's Affairs spokesperson, Ruth Dyson, did not think Smith's actions were of the same nature as the Chiefs' mad Monday incident, which prompted the open letter she signed.

"This is a completely different situation," she said.

GETTY IMAGES Aaron Smith in action in Christchurch the day before the incident.

The president of the National Council of Women, Rae Duff, who also signed the open letter, did not think the latest rugby saga was an example of a toxic culture within professional rugby.

But Duff said Smith's actions were "a case of poor decision making" and were an issue for the rugby union to deal with.

SENT HOME

FACEBOOK/TEAGAN VOYKOVICH Aaron Smith together with girlfriend Teagan Voykovich.

The All Blacks learned about Smith's indiscretion on their arrival in South Africa for their final Rugby Championship match against the Springboks in Durban this weekend.

Player leadership and management agreed Smith should serve a one-match ban.

Smith requested to go home to deal with the fallout, and the All Blacks have supported him.

Hansen says Smith accepted his behaviour was not of All Blacks standard. Team leaders decided on punishment. — All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 5, 2016 Hansen said Smith had asked to return home and team management had supported that. — All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 5, 2016

"I had a conversation with Aaron on Tuesday and he confirmed the story," said All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

"As a result of that the leadership group met and were unanimous in the fact that behaviour wasn't acceptable and as a consequence a one match suspension would be put in place.

SUPPLIED Aaron Smith in Christchurch Airport.

"Clearly Aaron is bitterly disappointed with his behaviour and feels he has let the team down but just as importantly feels he is bitterly disappointed in letting his family and partner down."

INDISCRETION SPOTTED

A witness has spoken of her disgust after seeing Smith enter a disabled toilet with a female at Christchurch Airport last month.

The incident took place during the afternoon of Sunday, September 18 - the day after the All Blacks test against South Africa in Christchurch.

A woman, who asked not to be named, witnessed Smith enter a unisex disabled cubicle in the afternoon, just moments after a young woman - understood not to be his partner Teagan Voykovich - had entered the cubicle.

The woman, who was at the airport with her husband and young son, said she decided to speak out because that kind of behaviour was not acceptable of a high-profile role model in a public place.

It was about 2pm and the team was upstairs in the food court area, wearing their travel uniforms (white, check shirts and black pants).

The husband and wife took their young son to the bathroom. They were waiting outside the unisex cubicle designed for families or less-abled people when a young woman walked towards the cubicle.

They stood aside to let her use the bathroom first. Moments later Smith walked down the hallway and entered the same cubicle.

She said the pair were in the bathroom for about 10 minutes and noises could be heard, adding that their young son was oblivious to the situation.

The All Black left the cubicle first, straightening up his shirt and rubbing his face, she said. The woman emerged about 30 seconds later.

The rugby star then returned to his teammates and proceeded to greet fans at the airport.

The woman said the more she thought about it the angrier she became.

"We want to convey the fact that we're not narking or gossiping."

However, the All Blacks were put on a pedestal and were role models for young Kiwis, she said.

As such, they should be held to a higher level of scrutiny.

"Most people would not do that, let alone a public figure."

The All Black was representing his team at the time of the incident, wearing his number ones and in a very public place.

"They are kings and treated like absolute royalty...We hold these people so high in regard.

"They get paid more money than any other athlete, they're household names, and they're on the Weetbix boxes for God's sake."

The woman's husband also made a recording on his phone from outside the cubicle after he realised what was taking place.

THE DISABLED BATHROOM

Regarding the pair's use of a disabled toilet, a Human Rights Commission spokeswoman said, "accessible bathrooms are designed to be used by people with disabilities and should be reserved for people who genuinely need them".

A Christchurch Airport spokeswoman said, "we don't condone inappropriate behaviour at our airport and we understand the matter is being dealt with between the All Blacks and the player concerned".

An Auckland lawyer said having sex in a public toilet was not a specific crime. However, it could be classed as an offensive act.

NOT THE FIRST TIME

Smith has a history of sexual indiscretions.

A former girlfriend of two years is understood to have broken up with Smith after he slept with well-known escort Lisa Lewis.

He also made headlines after he sent a nude picture of himself via Snapchat, and the picture was screen captured and shared online.

And in 2012 he was benched ahead of a test after missing a team curfew.

All Blacks team-mate Sonny Bill Williams has also courted similar controversy.

In 2007, Williams was caught up in a scandal involving an Australian ironwoman star in a pub toilet. He was subsequently forgiven by his girlfriend at the time.

ANOTHER HIT FOR NZ RUGBY

The governing body is supporting the action taken by the All Blacks in standing Smith down from the team to play South Africa.

"This was really bad decision-making by Aaron which reflects poorly on him, and on the team," NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said.



Smith will face a misconduct hearing on his return to New Zealand.





The news comes after a bad run for New Zealand Rugby, which has been criticised at-length for its handling of the Losi Filipo assault case.

The indiscretion also comes hot on the heels of the Chiefs stripper saga, where rugby players allegedly assaulted a stripper and acted inappropriately during post-season celebratory events.

Canterbury and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson, who played 23 tests for the All Blacks between 1998 to 2002, admitted the 'strippergate' incident involving the Chiefs, Losi Filipo's assault drama in Wellington and now Smith's indiscretion have tarnished the code's image.

"We've got to be a lot better as a group. We've got to make sure we don't hide from the fact that these incidents are serious.

"We've got to make sure we understand our role in the community, we've just got to be better. If it's more help [for players], more understanding. It's just not good enough," he said.

Robertson, who replaced Todd Blackadder at the Crusaders after coaching the New Zealand under-20s team, said players young - and old - were told repeatedly about the behavioural standards they were expected to maintain as a professional sportsperson.

"We're role models, we're held in the highest regard and our behaviour has to match that," he said, before admitting the players ultimately had to take responsibility for their actions.

"It's down to people's choices. You just hope people make good choices.

"There's some massive lessons coming out from this."