Promising political career may be over

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

The arrest and resignation of Justice Minister Kiri Allan from all her ministerial portfolios is a blow for the Government just 80 days out from an election, and a huge setback for this region’s young MP who had seemed destined for an even bigger political role in the future.

Allan had no option but to resign following her arrest on Sunday night after crashing into a parked vehicle in Wellington; she has been charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer. She was also issued an infringement notice for a breath alcohol reading of between 250-400mcg.

Allan, 39, had recently returned from leave to deal with mental health issues and a relationship break-up. Yesterday she said her actions showed she was not OK and, “I’ve let myself and my colleagues down”.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he and Allan discussed how her position as a minister was untenable in a phone call early yesterday. She advised him she wished to resign all her portfolios immediately, and would head home to consider her future in politics.

Heading off criticism of his own actions, Hipkins said he had provided Allan with the opportunity to address her mental health issues and after taking some time out she believed she was OK, and assured him of that.

The incident was evidence that there were not always quick fixes when it came to mental health. The best thing for Allan now was to focus on her whānau and her wellbeing away from Parliament, he said.

Allan’s downfall is a potentially fatal blow to the Government’s election chances, following so closely after the defection of Meka Whaitiri to Te Pāti Māori and the forced resignations of Stuart Nash and Michael Wood.

Hipkins has reallocated Allan’s portfolios within Cabinet, with Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson picking up her role overseeing cyclone recovery for the Tairāwhiti region.

For the Opposition this is another  chance to accuse the Government of incompetence and Hipkins of being unable to keep his ministers focused on the big issues that concern voters.

One big question now is what the future holds for Kiri Allan.

Entering Parliament as a list MP in 2017, Allan emerged as a bright new face for the party who was articulate and energetic. She rose extremely quickly to ministerial status following her win in the East Coast electorate in 2020, with a 6330-vote majority. Allan became Minister of Justice in June, 2022 and Hipkins promoted her to No.10 in Cabinet earlier this year.

All that hard work has been undone by one rash incident. Other politicians have managed to recover from major setbacks and re-establish themselves but it would be a huge challenge for Allan, if she is willing to try.