Wellington - On Monday, Kiri Allan, the Justice Minister of New Zealand, announced her resignation in the wake of being charged by the police for reckless driving and resisting arrest following a car accident. The incident occurred in Wellington shortly after 9 pm on Sunday, as reported by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. Allan was taken into custody at the central police station but was later released after four hours.

The charges brought against Allan include careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer, with a summons to appear in court at a later date. Additionally, she was handed an infringement notice for having excess breath alcohol levels between 250 and 400mcg.

This event marks the latest in a series of missteps and scandals involving government ministers, which is concerning given that national elections are less than three months away. Recent polls have indicated that the conservative opposition has caught up or even slightly surpassed the incumbent liberals, suggesting a closely contested race.

Previously considered a rising star in the Labour party, Allan had recently taken a leave of absence to address her mental health issues, which were exacerbated by a public breakup with her partner and allegations of strained working relationships with her staff.

In response to the situation, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins communicated with Allan on Monday morning and expressed his belief that she was not in a suitable state to continue as a minister. Considering the severity of the charges, Hipkins stated that it was untenable for a justice minister to be facing criminal allegations. Allan agreed with this assessment and subsequently resigned from her ministerial positions, although she will remain a member of parliament for the time being.

Acknowledging the gravity of her actions, Allan issued an apology and expressed her intention to reflect on her future in politics while returning home. She admitted that she had faced numerous personal difficulties in recent weeks, which she had attempted to handle while fulfilling her duties as a minister. However, the events of the car crash demonstrated that she was not coping well, leading to her decision to step down.

This incident adds to the recent departures of other government ministers. Transport and immigration minister Michael Wood resigned last month due to failing to disclose a potential conflict of interest involving stocks he owned. In March, police minister Stuart Nash was dismissed after it was revealed that he had disclosed confidential information to donors. Furthermore, in May, customs minister Meka Whaitiri was fired after switching allegiance to another political party.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins took over from his predecessor Jacinda Ardern in January. As New Zealand's elections approach, scheduled for October 14th, the country's political landscape is facing notable challenges and uncertainties.