New Zealand Justice Minister Kiri Allan has resigned her portfolios after being charged by police over a late-night car crash, adding to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ challenges less than three months out from a general election.
Allan was involved in a crash in Wellington around 9 p.m. on Sunday and taken into police custody before being released several hours later, Hipkins said at a press conference on Monday. New Zealand Police said she was charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany an officer. An infringement notice was also issued for excess breath alcohol.
“I have spoken with her first thing this morning and advised her I do not believe she’s in a fit state to hold a ministerial warrant,” Hipkins said. “Kiri agrees, and she’s advised me she wishes to resign all her portfolios immediately, is heading home, and taking time to consider her future in politics. I’ve accepted that resignation.”
Allan becomes the fourth minister to leave Hipkins’ cabinet since March, weakening the ruling Labour Party’s claim to be a stable government ahead of the Oct. 14 election. Labour is currently neck-and-neck with the main opposition National Party in opinion polls.
In June, former Transport and Immigration Minister Michael Wood was stood down after the discovery of conflicts of interest. His demotion followed the ouster of Stuart Nash, who was removed as Economic Development Minister in March after it was revealed he disclosed confidential cabinet decisions to donors. In May, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri quit Labour to join the tiny Māori Party.
Hipkins said he will reallocate Allan’s portfolios across existing ministers rather than making new cabinet appointments, noting there are only five sitting weeks before parliament rises ahead of the election.
He said questions about how this latest development would affect Labour’s re-election chances “had not been front of mind” for him since he heard the news late Sunday, adding that his primary concern was Allan’s wellbeing and how to support her.
Allan, once a rising star in the Labour Party and touted as a future leader, recently took time away from parliament, saying she had been struggling with her mental health. At that time, local media reported she had split from her long-term partner.
Hipkins said he had been advised that Allan “was experiencing extreme emotional distress” at the time of last night’s incident.
“Her recent personal struggles with mental health have been well documented and it appears some of those issues came to a head yesterday,” he said. “Kiri is an incredibly talented person who clearly has been battling some demons and has not won that battle.”
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