Jacinda Ardern sacks immigration minister over year-long affair with staff member

Iain Lees-Galloway admits he ‘acted completely inappropriately’

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's prime minister, with Iain Lees-Galloway earlier in the month (AP)

Jacinda Ardern has sacked her immigration minister for carrying on a year-long affair with one of his staff members.

Iain Lees-Galloway admitted he had “acted completely inappropriately in my position and cannot continue as a minister”.

The woman involved in the consensual fling worked as a staff member in Mr Lees-Galloway’s office and also at one of the agencies he oversaw.

Ms Ardern, who leads New Zealand‘s liberal Labour Party, said she was wary about passing moral judgment on Mr Lees-Galloway’s actions. However, she added that the minister had opened himself up to accusations of improperly using the power of his role, especially because he had oversight of workplace relations and safety.

The prime minister said she learned about the allegations on Tuesday afternoon and questioned Lees-Galloway, 41, about them that evening. ”His actions have ultimately led me to lose confidence in him as a minister,” she said.

The relationship is believed to have ended several months ago.

Mr Lees-Galloway’s downfall came just one day after Andrew Falloon, an opposition politician, resigned after allegedly sending sexually explicit images to several women including a university student.

Mr Falloon has not commented on the claims, other than to issue an apology for making unspecified mistakes, and to add that he had received mental health counselling.

Judith Collins, the opposition leader, said she had written to Ms Ardern on Wednesday setting out her belief that the culture of New Zealand’s parliament needed to change. The leaders should work together on the issue, she said.

“Parliament and these precincts are not always a safe working place. And it’s not OK,” Ms Collins said. “And I believe she and I have an opportunity to fix it.”

Additional reporting by Associated Press