NZ minister calls himself ‘idiot’ for breaking lockdown

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's health minister has called himself an "idiot" after breaking the country's lockdown by driving his family to the beach.

David Clark admitted the 12-mile drive was "a clear breach of the lockdown principles". He offered his resignation to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, but kept his job because of the ongoing crisis. But he has been demoted in cabinet rankings and also lost a secondary position of associate finance minister, reported foreign media.

On Sunday, Scotland's chief medical officer resigned for making two trips to her second home during the lockdown. New Zealand went into its highest state of lockdown, level four, late on Wednesday (25 March). But on the first weekend, Mr Clark drove his family from their home in Dunedin to Doctor's Point beach. Clark admitted the trip to Ms Ardern after being criticised for another breach of the rules.