New Zealand health minister resigns following series of gaffes
The politician was stripped of some of his responsibilities in April after defying the country’s strict lockdown measures.
New Zealand’s health minister has resigned after making a series of personal blunders during the coronavirus pandemic.
David Clark had earlier described himself as an “idiot” for breaking the nation’s strict lockdown measures and then last week appeared to blame a beloved health official for border lapses, generating an angry reaction from the public.
Mr Clark said he had put all his energy into the job as he announced his resignation.
While New Zealand’s health response has been praised around the world after it managed to eliminate community transmission of the virus, Mr Clark has been widely ridiculed.
His latest gaffe came last week when he appeared to place the blame for allowing some returning travelers to leave quarantine without being tested with the director-general of health, Ashley Bloomfield.
Mr Bloomfield, who was standing behind Mr Clark while he spoke, appeared stung by the criticism as he frowned and looked away in a video captured by local outlet Newshub and viewed tens of thousands of times.
Mr Clark was stripped of some of his responsibilities in April after defying the country’s strict lockdown measures.
He drove 12 miles to the beach to take a walk with his family while the government was asking people to make historic sacrifices by staying at home.
He said at the time: “I’ve been an idiot, and I understand why people will be angry with me.”
However, on Thursday she accepted his resignation, saying in a statement it was “essential our health leadership has the confidence of the New Zealand public”.
She added: “As David has said to me, the needs of the team must come before him as an individual.”
Mr Clark said on Thursday he intends to remain in parliament as a backbencher.
