<p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dismissed Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway on Wednesday over allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a former staffer.</p>.<p>"The minister has shown a lack of judgment over a period of 12 months. In undertaking this relationship he has opened himself up to accusations of improperly using his office," Ardern said in a surprise news conference.</p>.<p>She said the minister had told her the relationship was consensual.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/nz-opposition-lawmaker-quits-after-allegedly-sending-sexually-explicit-image-863810.html" target="_blank"><strong>Also read: NZ opposition lawmaker quits after allegedly sending sexually explicit image </strong></a><br /><br />The announcement comes after opposition National Party leader Judith Collins said she had passed on an allegation about a Labour Party MP to the prime minister.</p>.<p>Ardern confirmed she was informed of the matter by Collins and said her office later received an email from a third party making the allegations.</p>.<p>Lees-Galloway said he accepted the prime minister’s decision and apologised.</p>.<p>“I have acted completely inappropriately in my position and cannot continue as a minister," he said in a statement.</p>.<p>Ardern said the minister had also decided not to stand at the next election, due on Sept. 19.</p>.<p>The prime minister's popularity has skyrocketed due to her response to the Covid-19 pandemic that has left the country largely unscathed, making her the favourite to win the election.</p>.<p>Her Labour Party, governing in a coalition with the Greens and the nationalist New Zealand First party, will face the National Party in what is expected to be a pandemic-dominated campaign.</p>.<p>But Labour has faced some turbulence in the recent weeks.</p>.<p>Lees-Galloway is the second senior minister to leave Ardern's office this month, after Health Minister David Clark quit following slip ups in the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and personal mistakes.</p>.<p>A National party lawmaker also quit parliament on Tuesday after being accused of sending a sexually explicit image to a young woman.</p>
<p>New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dismissed Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway on Wednesday over allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with a former staffer.</p>.<p>"The minister has shown a lack of judgment over a period of 12 months. In undertaking this relationship he has opened himself up to accusations of improperly using his office," Ardern said in a surprise news conference.</p>.<p>She said the minister had told her the relationship was consensual.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/nz-opposition-lawmaker-quits-after-allegedly-sending-sexually-explicit-image-863810.html" target="_blank"><strong>Also read: NZ opposition lawmaker quits after allegedly sending sexually explicit image </strong></a><br /><br />The announcement comes after opposition National Party leader Judith Collins said she had passed on an allegation about a Labour Party MP to the prime minister.</p>.<p>Ardern confirmed she was informed of the matter by Collins and said her office later received an email from a third party making the allegations.</p>.<p>Lees-Galloway said he accepted the prime minister’s decision and apologised.</p>.<p>“I have acted completely inappropriately in my position and cannot continue as a minister," he said in a statement.</p>.<p>Ardern said the minister had also decided not to stand at the next election, due on Sept. 19.</p>.<p>The prime minister's popularity has skyrocketed due to her response to the Covid-19 pandemic that has left the country largely unscathed, making her the favourite to win the election.</p>.<p>Her Labour Party, governing in a coalition with the Greens and the nationalist New Zealand First party, will face the National Party in what is expected to be a pandemic-dominated campaign.</p>.<p>But Labour has faced some turbulence in the recent weeks.</p>.<p>Lees-Galloway is the second senior minister to leave Ardern's office this month, after Health Minister David Clark quit following slip ups in the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and personal mistakes.</p>.<p>A National party lawmaker also quit parliament on Tuesday after being accused of sending a sexually explicit image to a young woman.</p>