Jabar Ekspres – New Zealand Justice Minister Kiri Allan resigned on Monday following a car crash in Wellington for reckless driving and driving under the influence and resisting arrest.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said the accident involving Allan occurred on Sunday at around 9pm local time before he was detained for four hours.
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Allan has also received an offense notice for excessive alcohol content.
“While his actions were unjustified, I have been told that he was under great emotional distress at the time of the incident,” Hipkins said in a statement.
“His recent struggles with mental health have been known and it appears that some of those issues surfaced yesterday,” he added.
Hipkins said he had told Allan that he was in no fit state to be minister and that the post was “untenable” for a justice minister charged with a criminal offense.
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Allan agreed and decided to resign from his ministerial position, he added.
Hipkins, who became prime minister in January following Jacinda Ardern’s resignation, has appointed Ginny Andersen as the new justice minister.
