All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith is on his way home from South Africa after being suspended following an incident at Christchurch Airport last month.
Aaron Smith. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The team's coach, Steve Hansen, said Smith was seen entering a toilet cubicle with a female friend at Christchurch Airport the day after the test against the Springboks last month.
Hansen said Smith had been suspended for one test after breaking team protocol regarding behaviour.
"On the Sunday in Christchurch after the South African test at the Christchurch Airport, Aaron and a female friend were seen by members of the public to enter the disabled toilets," Hansen said.
"On our arrival to South Africa on Monday we were informed on this. I had a conversation with Aaron, who confirmed the story. As a result of this the leadership group met and were unanimous in the fact the behaviour wasn't acceptable and as a consequence a one-match suspension would be put in place."
Hansen said Smith accepted his behaviour was not of All Black standard and the team leaders decided on the punishment.
"Clearly Aaron is bitterly disappointed in his behaviour and feels he's let the team down but just as importantly feels bitterly disappointed in letting his family and his partner down," Hansen said.
He said Smith had asked to return home to deal with the "personal matters that have come with this incident".
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said: "This was really bad decision-making by Aaron which reflects poorly on him, and on the team."
Smith will face a misconduct hearing on his return to New Zealand.
"He has failed to meet the standards that New Zealand Rugby and the public expect of our players.
"We are taking action to improve the culture of our game and are about to embark on an independent review of respect and responsibility in our professional player environment. We have drafted the terms of reference and are currently talking to prospective panel members. We will provide an update on this shortly."
Prime Minister John Key said Smith had let himself and those close to him 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."
Mr Key said the All Blacks have been good role models over the past 10 to 20 years.
"They do a lot to try and prove to young New Zealanders that they are the sort look up to, but that's why I feel Aaron will feel quite disappointed in himself.
"I think the rugby union, coming off the back of other pretty poor PR issues in recent times, will want to make they send a strong message to the All Blacks that they have high level of expectations of their behaviour and Aaron clearly didn't meet it."
Historian Ron Palenski, the chief executive of the Sports Hall of Fame in Dunedin, said he did not condone Smith's behaviour, and that a certain standard of behaviour from All Blacks when they were on "official duty" was expected.
Mr Palenski said there was an expectation that people in that context would "behave normally and responsibly and clearly he didn't".
"I, and I believe most of New Zealand, would expect a higher standard of behaviour from All Blacks because they're representing their country in a very important sport to New Zealand than they would from me for example or any Joe Blow.
"People do quite rightly expect a higher standard of behaviour from their national representatives."
Anti-sexual-violence advocate Louise Nicholas said she had met with New Zealand Rugby about recent incidents, including the Chiefs' stripper scandal, and the organisation was keen to change its culture.
"We've had meetings with Steve Tew around what and where to go forward with all the issues that have arisen in the last few months."
Christchurch Airport described Smith's behaviour as "inappropriate".
It is not the first time Smith has courted controversy.
In 2012 he was benched for a test against South Africa in Dunedin for breaking a team curfew and two years a later a naked selfie of him was posted online.
