"this guy"
Health Minister David Clark demoted after taking beach trip amid lockdownThomas Manch·07:58, April, the 7th, 2020.
Health Minister David Clark has narrowly avoided being sacked after taking a 20 kilometre trip to a beach amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Clark, in a statement issued early on Tuesday morning, said he had informed the prime minister of his breach of the lockdown and offered his resignation.
He later told the AM Show he felt "like a complete dick" when he realised his mistake. Clark even left the door open to resigning from Parliament by not standing at the next election.
Ross GiblinMinister of Health David Clark has been stripped of some of his portfolios.
"I haven't thought that far ahead, I've been told to get on with my job and that's what I'll be doing," he said.
He said on the first weekend of the lockdown he travelled about 20km from his home to Doctor's Point Beach for a walk with his family.
At a time when we are asking New Zealanders to make historic sacrifices I've let the team down. I've been an idiot, and I understand why people will be angry with me."
Clark told the prime minister of his movements during lockdown on Monday evening, as he prepared for parliament's epidemic response committee which will meet on Tuesday.
"She was pretty angry, understandably, disappointed, and I hope that encapsulates it," Clark said of the prime minister's reaction, on the AM Show on Tuesday morning.
REBECCA WHITE/SUPPLIEDDoctors Point beach near Dunedin. (file photo)
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in a statement issued the same time as Clark's, said in normal circumstances she would "sack" Clark for the indiscretion.
"But right now, my priority is our collective fight against Covid-19. We cannot afford massive disruption in the health sector or to our response. For that reason, and that reason alone, Dr Clark will maintain his role.
"But he does need to pay a price. He broke the rules."
SUPPLIEDA photograph taken of Health Minister David Clark's van at the carpark of a Dunedin mountain bike park, on Thursday April 2nd, a week into a full scale lockdown of New Zealand.
Instead, he would be stripped of his associate finance minister portfolio and be demoted to the bottom of the Government's Cabinet rankings.
Ardern said there were no excuses for his actions.
"I have got this completely wrong, I've made a mistake," Clark said.
"Clearly I was not thinking straight.
"I can't afford to make errors of judgement like this", he said.
Clark said he didn't recall that he had broken the rules by going to the beach until Monday night.
"I thought carefully about was there anything else I had done that might have breached the rules and it was bloody obvious at that point - I felt like a complete dick if I'm honest," he said.
Last week, Clark came under fire for driving to a mountain bike park more than 2km from his home.
Clark confirmed to Stuff he had driven from his Dunedin home to ride an mountain bike trail, between video conferences that afternoon.
"This was my only chance to get out for some exercise in daylight hours ... The track itself is not challenging, and is widely used by families and foot-traffic. I know that now is not the time for people to be engaging in higher-risk exercise activities," he said in a statement.
"I don't want to give anyone the perception that I take these matters lightly. This is a reminder to me to think carefully about how best to fit some exercise into my new-normal routine."
He apologised to the prime minister after Stuff reported on the mountain bike trip.
Kiwis have been ordered to stay at home for a four-week lockdown, a severe measure hoped to break the community transmission of Covid-19.
Clark on Tuesday said he had also taken his family to a walking track approximately 2km from his home by car, and been on occasional runs, "all of which were local and within the rules".
THE OFFICIAL ADVICE "You can go for a walk, run or bike ride ... Do not go hunting or hiking, and especially not on overnight trips." - Covid-19 website
"You may use a private vehicle to get food or medicine ... Personal walks and other active travel like biking is fine, provided you follow the 2-metre physical distancing requirements." - Covid-19 website
"Cycling is great, and, yes, you might want to go further—and stay in your bubble. Don't go racing off the side of the track and injuring yourself while you're trying to keep two metres distance, because bikers tend to pass fairly quickly. But look, I think, as Sarah says, it's a matter of judgment." - Dr Ashley Bloomfield, March the 27th
"Ask yourself that question: should I be somewhere where I might need help and someone will have to come in and rescue me?" - Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black, March the 27th
"You've heard the Prime Minister say "Keep it local", absolutely. Don't be driving willy-nilly all over town—for me, it's about if it's nearby, if it's for exercise, that's OK ... Absolutely — nearby, very local, but for the right reason. But let's not forget, this is about staying home so you stay alive; that's the principle," - Police Commissioner Mike Bush, March the 26th
"As we've always said, stay local. And, by and large, you know, our preference, of course, would be people just stepping outside of their home and making the most of their local community. I accept, though, there are some people who not near an area where they can safely walk or they can safely get fresh air, so we do accept that people will make short-distance journeys," - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, March the 31st
Stuffhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politi ... d-lockdown
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