New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has apologised for a mass selfie taken on university grounds last week that broke her own COVID-fighting social distancing measures.
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The euphoria-inducing Labour leader toured Massey University at Palmerston North on Thursday last week while campaigning for New Zealand's October 17 election.
While security around prime ministerial visits is tight, Ms.Ardern was spotted through the windows of a laboratory, and soon enough, a crowd had grown outside the facility's exit.
Upon leaving, the PM was flooded by students and fans as she made her way to the campaign van.
Ms Ardern initially called for the crowd to back away but soon embraced the mob and produced the souvenir picture.
Ms Ardern, in Auckland on Monday to announce the rollback of COVID-19 restrictions, said she should have known better.
"All the way through on the campaign trail and even before during alert level settings, I work really hard not to shake people's hands," she said.
"I sanitise. I wear my mask in Auckland, and I work hard to try and keep my social distance.
"In that particular photo I did make a mistake. I should have stepped further forward. I should have asked them to step apart from each other, and I acknowledge that."
The COVID restrictions have been tough on the country's politicians, who have been unable to reach voters in the means they've become accustomed to.
Politicians have scrapped doorknocking efforts, instead holding footpath meetings.
Debate crowds have been scaled right back, with voters encouraged to watch online rather than attend in person.
And rallies have been held back until the back end of the campaign,
As of Tuesday, candidates and parties are free to hold gatherings of any size outside of Auckland.
In the country's biggest city, it is against the law to hold a gathering with more than 100 people, though this restriction is due to come offline on October 8, just nine days before election day.
Deputy PM Winston Peters, who entered parliament in 1979, decried the restrictions, saying they made for "the worst campaign environment that I've been involved in".
Ms Ardern said the restrictions weren't aimed at dampening campaign efforts.
"None of our decision-making around these alert levels, actually are based on the politics or the campaign. They can't be. They have to be about safety," she said.
"There's awkward moments where I refuse to shake people's hands and try and keep distance."
Australian Associated Press
