Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said he hasn’t been thinking about how damaging Kiri Allan’s arrest and resignation was for Labour ahead of the election.

Allan was charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer following a crash on Evans Bay Parade in Roseneath last night shortly after 9pm.

Hipkins said he was given information Allan was experiencing emotional distress, repeating what he had earlier published in a statement. His immediate concern was for her wellbeing.

He referenced how she had recently taken time off and that she was “at the top of her game” at Parliament last week. However, he said things could flip without warning when mental health was involved.

Hipkins had spoken to Allan before 7am today, discussing how her position as a minister was untenable.

“It was a difficult conversation... she’s not in a good space,” Hipkins said of Allan.

“I’m gutted for Kiri, I’m concerned for her wellbeing.”

Asked if it was time for a snap election, Hipkins said there would be an election on October 14 and said the public elected them and therefore had confidence in the Government.

He didn’t think now was the right time to make someone else a minister given how close it was to the House rising and the campaign starting. He was confident the current ministers could handle the workload.

Hipkins received a call from his chief of staff about 10pm yesterday and then had a call from Minister of Police Ginny Andersen. He said the facts weren’t very clear and what had happened was “contested” last night but it had become clear today.

He received “conflicting messages” about who was driving and wasn’t able to get all the details last night, partly because he hadn’t been able to contact her.

But that had since been clarified that she was indeed driving as per her charge.

Hipkins said he couldn’t provide details on where Allan was driving and why she had allegedly resisted arrest, except to say she was in a distressed state.

Allan had been receiving counselling and professional support when she returned to work.

“Ultimately, mental health is incredibly challenging.”

It hadn’t been clear who was driving last night, there was a suggestion Allan had said she wasn’t driving, Hipkins said.

Allan had indicated she’d go away and do some thinking but Hipkins said there would be a time to discuss her ability to represent the people of Whakatane.

On her explanation for her behaviour, Hipkins said he didn’t want to go into details about that except to say Allan had referenced aspects of her mental health during their conversation this morning.

He said it was more appropriate for police to share further details on what exactly happened during the incident. He didn’t know whether Allan was arrested at the scene or not.

‘Absolutely devastating’ - colleagues react to Kiri Allan’s arrest

Education Minister Jan Tinetti says news of Justice Minister Kiri Allan being arrested and facing charges of careless driving and resisting arrest is “absolutely devastating”.

It was confirmed earlier this morning that Allan was taken into police custody last night following a car crash in Wellington shortly after 9pm in Roseneath.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement that Allan had lost her ministerial portfolios as a result and referenced her recent mental health struggles.

Tinetti, speaking to reporters at Wellington Airport, said Allan was a friend and colleague and that the incident was “just horrible.

“I think that mental health is something that we have to take really, really seriously and this just shows how tragic this is.”

Damage can be seen on a ute parked on Evans Bay Parade after last night's crash involving Kiri Allan. Photo / Nick James

Allan had recently taken time off to address mental health issues but returned to Parliament on Monday last week.

Tinetti didn’t believe Allan was brought back to work too soon, saying she was with Allan through last week, including the pair going on a walk on Wednesday night, and “she was good”, according to Tinetti.

“That just shows how unpredictable mental health is and we have to take this very seriously and this needs to be something that, as a country, we need to look at how unpredictable this is and how vulnerable people are in these situations.”

Speaking with emotion in her voice, Tinetti said hearing the news was “devastating, absolutely devastating.

“I am so worried about my friend right now.”

She denied the incident was being minimised when asked by reporters, saying Allan had lost her job.

She was charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest and was released from custody at 1am on Monday, Hipkins said.

A statement from police, which did not name Allan, said a person had been charged with careless use of a motor vehicle and refusing to accompany a police officer following a crash on Evans Bay Parade in Roseneath last night shortly after 9pm.

An infringement notice was issued as Allan had excess breath alcohol between 250-400 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per litre of breath.

Allan would appear in court “at a later date”, according to the police statement.

Kiri Allan was charged with reckless driving and resisting arrest. Photo / Mark Mitchell

“While her alleged actions are inexcusable, I’ve been advised she was experiencing extreme emotional distress at the time of the incident,” Hipkins said of Allan.

“Her recent personal struggles with mental health have been well documented and it appears some of those issues came to a head yesterday.

“I have spoken with her first thing this morning and advised her I do not believe she’s in a fit state to hold a ministerial warrant.

“I believe it’s also untenable for a Justice Minister to be charged with criminal offending,” Hipkins said.

Hipkins said that he was supporting Allan but isn’t trying to diminish her actions, which he said were “indefensible”. The Prime Minister will reallocate her portfolios, including justice, regional development, associate finance and associate transport.

Allan, in a statement, said she had immediately resigned and was heading home to the East Coast and will take time to “consider my future in politics.

“I accept that my position as a minister is untenable,” she said.

“Over recent weeks I’ve faced a number of personal difficulties. I took time off to address those, and believed I was okay to juggle those challenges with the pressure of being a minister.

“My actions yesterday show I wasn’t okay, and I’ve let myself and my colleagues down,” Allan said.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins will reassign Kiri Allan's portfolios including Justice and Regional Development. Photo / Mark Mitchell

RNZ has been provided photos taken last night of a Hyundai Kona - an electric car available to ministers - blocking one lane of a road.

Allan returned to her full ministerial duties on Monday last week after taking some time away from Parliament due in part to a relationship break-up.

While she was taking a few days of mental health leave, separate allegations were reported regarding her treatment of staff, which she strongly denied.

She then took another two weeks off over Parliament’s recess.

Act leader David Seymour, speaking to Newstalk ZB, said he was sad after hearing what had happened, saying he had known Allan for a long time and thought she was generally a “good sort.

“She has clearly been struggling deeply and personally over the last few months and years, possibly.”

Seymour criticised Hipkins for allowing Allan to return to work without a “proper inquiry.

“That I think Chris Hipkins has to bear a real burden for.”