‘Extreme emotional distress’: Kiri Allan resigns as minister after crash arrest
Monday, 24 July 2023
Kiri Allan has resigned as Justice Minister, after being taken into police custody on Sunday night.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed she was charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer. She was summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
An infringement notice was also issued for excess breath alcohol between 250 and 400mcg.
Witnesses say the East Coast MP’s car struck a parked car on Evans Bay Parade in Roseneath on Sunday evening.
Allan was involved in a car crash shortly after 9pm, and taken into custody at Wellington Central police station before being released about 1am on Monday.
The Police Commissioner advised Police Minister Ginny Andersen that Allan had been taken into custody about 10pm, and Hipkins said he was advised shortly after.
“While her actions are inexcusable, I was given information that she was experiencing extreme emotional distress at the time of the incident,” Hipkins told media on Monday morning.
“My initial concerns last night were for her immediate safety and well-being.
“It appears that some of her personal struggles came to a head yesterday and were contributing factors in this incident,” he said.
“While her alleged actions are inexcusable, I’ve been advised she was experiencing extreme emotional distress at the time of the incident. Her recent personal struggles with mental health have been well documented and it appears some of those issues came to a head yesterday.”
Hipkins said he had accepted Allan’s resignation.
“I spoke to Kiri first thing this morning, just before 7am. I advised her that I did not believe she was in a fit state to hold a ministerial warrant. She expressed remorse and had already sent me a message just before that indicating that she intended to resign.
“She understood that retaining her ministerial warrant was untenable, especially for a justice minister to be charged with criminal offending,” he said.
“Kiri is now heading home and will be taking time to consider her future in politics.”
Hipkins said he recently provided Allan the opportunity to address her mental health issues, and she had told him she was ready to return to work after taking some time out.
“Those who saw her last week in the House and here in the theatrette launching the ram raid policy would have observed her at the top of her game,” he said.
“Last night’s incident, however, is evidence that there are not always quick fixes when it comes to mental health and things can flip very quickly and without warning.
“The best thing for Kiri right now is to focus on her whānau and her well-being and to be away from Parliament.”
Allan said in a statement she had faced “a number of personal difficulties” over recent weeks.
“I took time off to address those, and believed I was okay to juggle those challenges with the pressure of being a Minister. My actions yesterday show I wasn’t okay, and I’ve let myself and my colleagues down.
“I accept that my position as a Minister is untenable. I’m very sorry for my actions, the harm they could have caused and the embarrassment it has placed on the Government and my colleagues.”
Police said in a statement last night the road was blocked for a short time, but no injuries were reported.
Allan returned to Parliament on Monday after taking leave during the school holidays, following a tumultuous past few weeks.
She earlier spent a week on mental health leave, in relation to her personal life. When she returned to work, she faced claims from a senior public servant that she had screamed and yelled at them.
Education Minister Jan Tinetti heard the news about Kiri Allan at Wellington Airport on Monday morning.
“That shows what mental health can be. That’s not Kiri,” she said, when asked what she thought when she heard Allan had been charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest.
“Absolutely devastating, I am so worried about my friend.”
Green co-leader and Climate Minister James Shaw said it was the “right call” for Allan to resign.
“Frankly, it’s heartbreaking. Obviously Kiri has been through an incredibly tough time recently,” he said, during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report.
“She’s a human being, like anybody else and has been going through a very very time tough but ultimately, you know, it is very serious and both she and the prime minister have made the right call.”
ACT leader David Seymour said he was sad for Allan, as she was “a good sort” and it was clear she had been under immense stress.
“I’m really sad, politicians are human. I’ve known Kiri for years. To see this happen, there’s clearly real problems here,” he said.
On June 28, it was reported a staffer seconded to work with Allan chose to leave early because of concerns about “working relationships” in the office.
Department of Conservation chief executive Penny Nelson took her concerns to the Department of Internal Affairs, which manages Ministerial Services.
The Post understands other senior public servants – including from Emergency Management, and the Ministry of Business, innovation and Employment – also voiced concerns about how staff were treated.
Allan “strongly refutes” those allegations.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Allan said: “Parliament has been described as a robust working environment, and we deliberately work to address any issues or concerns early.”
A statement from the prime minister’s office said at time there had been no formal complaints made by departmental or ministerial staff about Allan.
“Some issues have been raised about how to improve working relations in the Minister’s office. Work was done to improve the situation and no further issues were raised,” it said.
On June 28, Allan made an Instagram post that was immediately deleted, admitting challenging times with her mental health and rejecting the allegations about her.