NZ minister resigns over 'errors'

21 March 2012 Last updated at 04:53 GMT  Nick Smith resigns as minister but says he would like to serve out his term in parliament A New Zealand minister is resigning over two letters to help a female friend's accident compensation claim.

Nick Smith made an emotional announcement in parliament, admitting to his ''error of judgement'' with regards to the letters and not declaring a conflict of interest.

He was minister for climate change, environment and local government.

He said Prime Minister John Key had ''quite properly'' accepted his resignation, New Zealand media say.

''Dr Smith has been a hard-working and diligent minister, but perceptions do matter and he knows he has let himself down,'' Mr Key said in a statement.

Mr Smith has been under pressure to resign since it was revealed that he was involved in the claim of his friend Bronwyn Pullar for a cycling accident while he was overseeing the country's accident compensation.

He said he did not want to comment on the nature of the relationship between him and Ms Pullar, a political activist.

''I have a wonderful wife and family who are actually very distressed today, that I have been absolutely loyal to my wonderful wife and I will be to the end of my days,'' he was quoted as saying in New Zealand media.

Mr Smith told parliament that he wrote a letter on the ministerial letterhead for Ms Pullar, and signed another letter related to her case without declaring his conflict of interest.

He also apologised to the PM, his caucus, family and staff, saying that he intended to serve out his term in parliament.

Mr Smith is one of several ministers in Mr Key's government to lose their portfolios over allegations of misconduct, report New Zealand media.

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Brazil tourism minister resigns

14 September 2011 Last updated at 23:59 GMT Mr Novais denies wrongdoing Brazilian Tourism Minister Pedro Novais has resigned over allegations that he misused public funds.

Mr Novais quit after newspaper reports accused him of using public money to employ a maid and a driver for his wife while he was a congressman.

He denies wrongdoing, and says he stepped down to prepare his defence.

He is the fourth minister to resign or be sacked over corruption allegations since President Dilma Rousseff took office in January.

Opposition groups say the resignations show that Ms Rousseff's government is tainted by corruption, the BBC's Paulo Cabral in Sao Paulo says.

But the government says corruption has always existed in Brazil - the difference now is that cases are being made public and action is being taken, our correspondent adds.

The resignations have strained Ms Rousseff's governing coalition, which is made up of more than a dozen parties.

Mr Novais, 81, is a member of her largest coalition partner, the Democratic Movement Party of Brazil (PMDB).

The latest accusations against him follow other allegations of corruption at Brazil's ministry of tourism.

Last month more than 30 ministry officials were arrested on charges of misusing public money.

President Rousseff's chief minister, Antonio Palocci, resigned in June after media reports questioned his rapid accumulation of wealth.

Since then, the ministers of agriculture and transport have resigned over corruption allegations. They deny wrongdoing, as does Mr Palocci.

Another minister, Nelson Jobim at defence, also left, after allegedly making disparaging remarks to the media about colleagues.

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