Clark says lockdown move 'within the rules'

David Clark
David Clark
Health Minister David Clark reportedly continued moving house while the rest of the country was in lockdown, but says he didn't breach the rules for the third time.

Newshub reports that Clark was spotted repeatedly moving between two Dunedin properties during the month-long lockdown period.

The new house was just down the road from his former residence, and the bulk of the relocating, including shifting his family and hiring a moving truck for heavy furniture, took place just before the lockdown began, Newshub says.

In a statement, Clark said he used his previous house as a work office while the country was under level 4 restrictions.

"I moved house, using the services of a moving company, on the Wednesday immediately before the level 4 lockdown began," he said.

"My new house is just up the road from my old one.

"During lockdown I used my old house as my office and occasionally walked the odd item or box back with me, as is within the rules."

Earlier this month, he was demoted and stripped of his Associate Finance portfolio after he admitted taking his family on a 40km round trip to the beach during lockdown and also going mountain biking on a trail.

Clark told the country he'd been an idiot after coming clean to the Prime Minister about his family beach trip.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that under normal circumstances, Clarke would've been sacked for his beach-going behaviour.

Ardern said at the time: "Under normal conditions I would sack the Minister of Health. 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 massive disruption in the health sector or to our response. For that reason, and that reason alone, Dr Clark will maintain his role.

"I expect better, and so does New Zealand."

Clark, who offered his resignation, told media that he felt "like a complete dick to be honest".

"At a time when we are asking New Zealanders to make historic sacrifices I've let the team down. I've been an idiot," Clark said in a statement earlier this month.

If this latest incident was considered to be against alert level 4 restrictions, it would be Clark's third breach in just over a month.