New footage reveals the damage to Kiri Allan’s car and a parked ute that she crashed into in Wellington at the weekend.
The person filming the video says he owns the ute that the former justice minister smashed into on Evans Bay Parade in Roseneath on Sunday night.
As he surveys the scene late at night, a sole police car with lights flashing cordoning the road, he points out the extent of the crash’s impact.
“[The] front of my car was parked here at this line and my car has been moved forward... almost a full car park spot forward by getting bashed when it was parked with the handbrake up,” he said.
The ute had damage to a rear right panel and a flattened tyre.
The missing chunk can be seen on the road directly behind the black ute.
The bonnet also appears shunted out of alignment from the impact of the crash.
That night, Allan’s career as a Cabinet Minister came to an end.
The former Cabinet minister was charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer following the crash.
Allan will appear in court at a later date.
The next day she resigned her ministerial portfolios before going on indefinite leave. Allan announced her resignation from politics the following day.
An apologetic Allan said she had failed many people who had placed their trust and confidence in her, and said she had let down her electorate, party and all those who relied on her.
In announcing her retirement from politics on social media yesterday, Allan said she needed to take time to “heal myself and chart a new course for my life”.
Allan returned to her full ministerial duties on Monday last week after taking some time away from Parliament due in part to a relationship break-up.
While she was taking a few days of mental health leave, separate allegations were reported regarding her treatment of staff, which she strongly denied.
She then took another two weeks off over Parliament’s recess.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins found out about the crash when he received a phone call from his chief of staff late on Sunday night. He then had a call from Police Minister Ginny Andersen.
“It was a pretty straightforward conversation,” Andersen said of her discussion with Hipkins. She said people who love and care for Allan were with her through the night following the incident.
Hipkins said he couldn’t provide details on where Allan was driving and why she had allegedly refused to accompany a police officer, except to say she was in a distressed state.
Allan had been receiving counselling and professional support when she returned to work.
“Ultimately, mental health is incredibly challenging.”
Hipkins spoke to Allan early Monday morning and discussed how her position as a minister was untenable.
“It was a difficult conversation... she’s not in a good space,” Hipkins said of Allan.
“I’m gutted for Kiri, I’m concerned for her wellbeing.”
