“Being the representative for the East Coast has been the greatest privilege of my life. But my actions have let everyone down.
“To the Prime Minister — I have undermined you and the trust you placed in me to do an important job for New Zealand. I cannot express the remorse I feel. I am so, so sorry.
“Second, to my colleagues and party members. I can’t describe how full of anger towards myself for letting you all down. I am so, so sorry. Only a Labour-led government can deliver the strength and support our communities need. I pray my actions do not impact the political landscape — my actions were mine, and mine alone.
“Finally to the awesome people of the mighty East Coast. Thank you for all your messages of love and support — I am so proud to have been your representative in Parliament, and I am so sorry to have let you down in a time when our region is hurting so much. I will continue to serve you as a MP until October and my offices are open with our arms wide open.
“I tried to dare greatly, my face marred by dust and sweat and blood and I hope that there were benefits for the people and places I represented by being in the arena. I erred, many times, and kept trying to battle for our people that needed the most.
“For now, it’s time to step out of the arena. Im not sure how long for, or if I’ll return, but my focus is now on trying to find a different kind of strength to serve our people and our place.
“On that basis, I have decided I will not stand again in the East Coast electorate for this year’s election. I need to take time to heal myself and chart a new course for my life.
“As Teddy Roosevelt once put it so well: ‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.’”
Allan was elected as MP for East Coast in the 2020 election, defeating National’s candidate Tania Tapsell by 6331 votes.
She first entered Parliament in the 2017 election as a Labour Party list MP. Before being made Justice Minister she previously held positions as Minister for Conservation and Minister for Emergency Management.
Ms Allan’s statement came after Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told TVNZ earlier in the day he had ruled out offering her another ministerial position post-election.
