NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell has lodged a bill to have English legally recognised as an official language of New Zealand.

The NZ First MP behind a "values" bill which could expel migrants was once judged unfit to run pubs because of his criminal record.

Clayton Mitchell wants new migrants to sign up to a cultural "code of conduct" that includes a commitment not to campaign against the legality of alcohol.

Mitchell is a former publican - but his licence to run a bar was cancelled after a series of incidents. They included a suspended prison sentence for assault - which a judge called an act of serious violence - and a dangerous driving conviction.

Two years later, Mitchell won back his certificate - supported by a reference from former police officer Brad Shipton, who was subsequently disgraced over a rape conviction.

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The second term MP initially didn't want to be interviewed by Stuff. "Is this one of your dirty little stories? You better get your facts right, because I tell you what, you better get your facts right or you'll get yourself in a hell of a lot of trouble," he said.

In a subsequent response to emailed questions, however, he acknowledged:

* A conviction of assault with intent to injure in what a judge described as an "act of serious violence on your part."

* A conviction for dangerous driving.

* A conviction for a "lock-in" at one of his bars - allowing customers to drink outside of the licensed hours.

Mitchell is now one of NZ First's rising stars. The former Tauranga City councillor made a splash at the party's annual conference last weekend with his 'Respecting New Zealand Values' campaign.

It has been criticised by some as xenophobic, and rejected by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. But Mitchell says his legislation is about "inclusion" and "against bigotry."

The bill would require new immigrants sign up to so-called "New Zealand values," including respect for gender equality, legal sexual preferences, freedom of religion and a commitment not to campaign against alcohol consumption.

On Friday he told Stuff: "I'm not a Saint, nor am I running to be the next Pope but I am a New Zealander with real life experiences who believes we should stand up and fight for our egalitarian culture and values."

Supplied In 1998, the Liquor Licensing Authority said NZ First MP Clayton Mitchell was "not a suitable person" to hold a manager's certificate.

Mitchell, 46, didn't attend the 1998 hearing that saw his general manager's certificate cancelled by the the Liquor Licensing Authority. He was in Australia - and his absence was heavily criticised by the authority.

He'd been running Straight Shooters bar, on Tauranga's Wharf Street. Local police - unhappy after a string of late-night incidents - asked the authority to cancel his general manager's certificate on the grounds: "That the conduct of the manager is such as to show that he is not a suitable person to hold the certificate."

They presented evidence of his criminal record to the authority. Mitchell was convicted in Tauranga District Court of assault with intent to injure while employed as the pub's duty manager.

Sentencing notes said the incident was "entirely out of character and totally unpredictable and unexpected but nevertheless was an act of serious violence on your part."

In an interview with Stuff in 2015, Mitchell claimed he was defending himself from a power-lifting gang member, and was left with a with a black eye and swollen face, but the authority's documents make no mention of this.

He was given a prison sentence of nine months, suspended for a year, and fined $2000. An order was made for half the fine to be paid to the complainant.

He had also been convicted of allowing customers into Straight Shooters after licensed hours - 4.30am on Sunday, September 15, 1996. Police officers had found 14 people at a lock-in at the bar, including Mitchell. He was fined $300.

On Friday, Mitchell told Stuff that incident amounted to a "frustrating technical breach of the rules".

"I had a staff party in one of my businesses and there were no patrons present. I was not selling liquor, I was saying thank you to a great bunch of staff who worked bloody hard for the business and really deserved a token of my gratitude by shouting them a couple of drinks after work."

The hearing - before Judge JP Gatley in Tauranga - also heard that Mitchell was convicted of driving in a dangerous manner in March 1994, and fined $250.

And there was a pending charge that also worried police. Officers had visited the bar in October 1997 at 1am and found "a large crowd of patrons" who claimed they were there for a pool tournament.

It was out-of licensed hours - and customers were only allowed to consume alcohol with food. "Mr Mitchell was duty manager; he tried to indicate to patrons with 'eating and knife and fork motions' that they were on the premises for the purpose of dining. When questioned about his actions Mr Mitchell indicated he wasn't trying to obstruct the Police," police told the authority.

Police came back a couple of hours later, to find the same people there, still not eating. The officers described Mitchell as "unco-operative" and he was charged with the unauthorised sale or supply of liquor. The hearing was set down at Napier's District Court, but the outcome isn't clear.

Police Sergeant Wayne Mills told the authority that as a result of his record and these incidents: "the police do not consider Mr Mitchell a fit and proper person to hold a general manager's certificate."

Mitchell enlisted his father Allard Mitchell - a publican for some 30 years - and Brad Shipton to give evidence in support of retaining his certificate.

Allard Mitchell had taken over running the pub when his son had left for Australia. He told the authority hearing: "I manage the premises. Clayton has the status of a silent partner and takes no part in the management of the premises.

"He is currently overseas and is not expected to return in the near future."

Phil Reid Brad Shipton twice provided character references for Mitchell to hold a manager's license. Shipton was subsequently jailed for rape.

Shipton - who was then running a private investigator and security company - was called to give evidence in support of the respondent.

In 2005, Shipton was jailed for 8½ years for his part in a violent pack-rape of a Mt Maunganui woman in 1989. A year earlier, the Dominion Post published Louise Nicholas's allegations that she was raped by former police officers Shipton, Bob Schollum and Clint Rickards in the mid 1980s. The trio were acquitted of those charges in 2006.

Shipton said Mitchell "had been experiencing difficulties with regard to drunk patrons, controlling minors on the premises and general security".

He found Mitchell to "be fairly above board, focused on the issues and determined to deal with them ... I have also had further discussions with Clayton Mitchell regarding the training of his staff, especially with respect to his bar persons and training his manager. Due to my experience in the police I believe I have the knowledge and the experience to assist the bar ...

"The problems that have been faced by Straight Shooters bar in my opinion are not insurmountable nor excessive. In my 17 years in the police force and numerous dealings with licensees, I have observed more serious breaches than those alleged against Straight Shooters bar".

The authority was not swayed. "Where the holder of a General Manager's Certificate has criminal convictions calling into question his suitability to hold the certificate the principal mitigating factor usually relied upon by the authority is the impression we gain of the manager when he appears before us at a public hearing," they wrote in their decision.

"The present respondent's case is not assisted by his deliberate choice to leave the country on the Saturday preceding the hearing before the Authority on a Tuesday.

"Having regard to the frequency of flights between Australia and New Zealand we place on record our scepticism at the suggestion that it was not practical for Mr Mitchell to be present at the hearing."

They noted the seriousness of the assault charge and the pending case in Napier District Court relating to the third incident.

"Mr Mitchell's two convictions resulting from incidents either on licensed premises or originating on licensed premises are sufficient to satisfy the authority, on the balance of probabilities, that the respondent is not a suitable person to hold a General Manager's Certificate ... we have concluded - in particular after having regard to the seriousness of the offence of assault with intent to injure - that it is desirable that we should make an order [to cancel the certificate]."

By 1998, Mitchell was back in the country and asked the Liquor Licensing Authority to give him another chance. He'd been working at the Waikanae Hotel, and the Chicago Sports Café in Wellington.

A public hearing in Napier heard again from Allard Mitchell, who presented another reference from Shipton.

It said: "A great deal of time has past since Clayton has been in any form of trouble; it is obvious that he has matured in every sense of the word. While I was Officer in Charge of the liquor licensing and team policing units I had a great deal to do with Clayton and the way he operated.

"I believe that Clayton was let down by a lot of people around him, and he ended up taking the consequences for that. I believe that he now accepts and understands that he alone in his position must make the hard decisions and accept full responsibility for that.

"It is quite obvious to anyone that knows Clayton that he has now matured to such a degree that he will carry out his duties and obligations to a higher standard than what is required.

"I very rarely give references but in Clayton's case I do not hesitate. I support his application fully and would like to see the board reinstate his licence because he has worked hard and deserves this opportunity. I know that if given the opportunity he will not let anyone down."

Nick Smith, owner of the Chicago Café said Mitchell worked there for six months. "Clayton is cool-headed during the most trying times. There is no one I have known in my long years in this industry that is more capable to be a licensed manager than Clayton and I would stake my reputation on him."

Allard Mitchell told the hearing his son had been under "financial and personal pressure at the time".

Mitchell's accountant and family solicitor also gave evidence of his good character, maturity and new-found personal responsibility.

Police and Napier's District Licensing Agency Inspector originally opposed the application but later withdrew that, the hearing was told.

Mitchell accepted the criticism of his management of the Tauranga premises. "I am not making excuses ... I should have made more effort," he said.

The Authority decided to reinstate his certificate in October 2000.

"Mr Mitchell's experience and training are adequate, but the events in Tauranga which led to the cancellation of his manager's certificate cannot be overlooked," they wrote.

"All witnesses agreed, and Mr Mitchell conceded, that his performance was unsatisfactory. Since then he has gained further experience; he has also retained the support of his family, his business advisor, the family lawyer and a former employer ... Despite his earlier lapses, we are prepared to give him another opportunity to display the attributes the witnesses and his referees have ascribed to him, and grant the application."

He was put on "probation" for one year.

Shipton and Mitchell went on to become business partners, running three Bay of Plenty bars together: the Mount Mellick, World's End and Bahama Hut. Shipton sold out to Mitchell in 2004 when the rape allegations first surfaced.

In a 2015 interview, Mitchell told the Bay of Plenty Times: "Yes, I was in business with Brad Shipton for about three years ... before any of that broke ... nobody knew. I mean Brad was in the police, he got into council. Nobody knew this history [the Nicholas allegations related to events in the mid-1980s], and it was a shock to everybody."

There were further controversies. In December 2009, the Bahama Hut was forced to close for a week because of all-you-can-drink promotions - Funtastic Fridays and Super Saturdays. For six hours, customers got unlimited booze for $39. The Mount Mellick also ran an event where an-oiled up dwarf was hurtled along a plastic sheet. They called it "leprechaun curling."

In his written response on Friday, Mitchell said his proposed "values" bill had received positive feedback.

"I am proud of my record in the hospitality industry, and the success I achieved in it. When you are in an industry as heavily regulated and policed as hospitality for as long as what I was in it, you expect to be nailed a few times for minor breeches," he said.

"I'm not a Saint, nor am I running to be the next Pope but I am a New Zealander with real life experiences who believes we should stand up and fight for our egalitarian culture and values.

"As far as judging other peoples values I am pretty confident I am on the right side of the NZ public on this issue, and the voters I have talked to have been really encouraging of remit (which is yet to be ratified by our Caucus).

"NZ is a connected country and our people are smart enough to realise what is happening in other parts of the world. We are a tolerant country, and expect those who come here to be similarly tolerant. Intolerant people who want to remove the rights of minorities or women should not be allowed here."