PM Jacinda Ardern said last week she "had discussions" with David Clark and how the primary focus should be the Government's response to Covid-19. Clark tendered his resignation to Ardern yesterday which was accepted.
Former Health Minister David Clark's very public failings as New Zealand battled Covid-19 were reported around the globe and now worldwide media have reacted to his resignation, with one country seemingly desperate to secure his services.
Clark's series of blunders earned him the ire of many New Zealanders and globalmedia eagerly reported his mistakes as a counterpoint to our team of five million's successes in fighting the virus.
Clark announced his resignation yesterday, saying that he had become a distraction but denying that he was forced into stepping down.
"The decision was mine," he said.
During lockdown alert level 4, Clark went mountain biking at a popular trail despite ministry guidelines urging Kiwis to only go outside for essential trips.
He followed that by making a 20km trip to a beach during lockdown, against the advice of his family.
The final nail in the coffin was Clark's ham-fisted treatment of the much-beloved Ashley Bloomfield, throwing the director general of health under the bus as he stood directly behind him.
"David Clark had earlier described himself as an 'idiot' for breaking the nation's lockdown measures and then last week appeared to blame a beloved health official for border lapses, generating an angry response from the public."
Health Minister David Clark admitted his actions had been distracting. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The Guardian
The left-wing British outlet's New Zealand correspondent Eleanor Ainge Roy said that Clark was "viewed as an ineffectual minister who has struggled to make an impact during his term" and noted that he was at the helm of the Health Ministry through the border bundles saga.
AAP
The Australian Associated Press noted that Clark had "overseen a string of problems at New Zealand's border controls" and said the former Minister of Health had "infuriated" Kiwis with his lockdown breaches.
The New York Times
The venerable US publication described Clark as "a blemish on what health experts say has otherwise been one of the world's most successful responses to the outbreak".
But it was readers of the Times who put Clark's failings in a distinctly different context.
New Zealand’s health minister, David Clark, resigned on Thursday, saying that his missteps during the pandemic had become a distraction for the government. https://t.co/jvsNeFrgNJ
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with new Health Minister Chris Hipkins during their press conference. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Jacinda Ardern said she had "frank discussions" late last week with Clark about how the primary focus should be the Government's response to Covid-19 and there were "some issues" getting in the way of that
"He reached the conclusion that his ongoing presence in the health role was causing too much distraction from the Government's ongoing response to Covid-19. An assessment I agree with."
But she hasn't closed the door for Clark being given any other portfolios after the election, but it wouldn't be health.
"I will leave that door open."
Chris Hipkins, who is Minister of Education, State Services and the Leader of the House, is standing in as Health Minister until the election, when it will be re-assessed if Labour is re-elected.
Hipkins said he would be "giving it my all" until the election and will sit down with the health team and work through the response to Covid-19.
