New Zealand: Ms. Kiri Allan, Minister of Justice of New Zealand , has resigned after police charged her with reckless driving and resisting arrest after a car crash.
The New Zealand Prime Minister Mr. Chris Hipkins stated that “Ms. Allan was involved in the crash shortly after 9 PM on Sunday in Wellington, and she was detained at the central police station before being released four hours later.”
Ms. Allan was charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer, and she has been summoned to appear in court at a later date. The minister was handed an infringement notice for excess breath alcohol between 250 and 400 micrograms.
The incident involving Ms. Allan was the latest in a series of missteps and scandals involving government ministers less than three months out from national elections.
According to reports, the New Zealand PM spoke to Ms. Allan and informed her that she wasn’t in a fit state to remain a minister, as it is untenable for a justice minister to be charged with criminal offences.
“She agreed and resigned her ministerial roles,” Mr. Hipkins remarked. For now, Ms. Allan remains a member of Parliament.
Ms. Allan apologised for her actions and added that “over recent weeks, I have faced a number of personal difficulties. I took time off to address those and believed I was OK to juggle those challenges with the pressure of being a minister.”
“My actions yesterday show I wasn’t OK, and I’ve let myself and my colleagues down,” Ms. Allan added.
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