NEW Zealand’s health minister today described himself as “an idiot” for breaking lockdown restrictions, but keeps his job coordinating the South Pacific nation’s Covid-19 response.

David Clark said he offered his resignation to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after revealing he took a 20km drive to the beach with his family.

He admitted that the trip was a clear breach of the country’s strict lockdown rules, under which families must stay close to home, and his position means he should have been setting an example.

“At a time when we are asking New Zealanders to make historic sacrifices, I’ve let the team down,” he said in a statement.

“I’ve been an idiot, and I understand why people will be angry with me.”

Clark also said he had taken short 2km drives with his family, adding these were within the rules.

Ardern said under normal circumstances, she would have sacked Clark – but instead, she stripped him of the junior role of associated finance minister and demoted him in cabinet rankings.

“What he did was wrong, and there are no excuses.

“But right now, my priority is our collective fight against Covid-19. We cannot afford a massive disruption in the health sector or to our response. For that reason, and that reason alone, Clark will maintain his role.”

Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, resigned on Sunday for breaking the rules after twice visiting her second home despite fronting an ad campaign calling for Scots to stay indoors. – AFP, April 7, 2020.