Police inquiry after MP Trevor Mallard in road rage row

PHIL REID/ The Dominion Post

CITY TROUBLE: Trevor Mallard, pictured cycling in Pukerua Bay, says he nearly fell off his bike in Wellington from "this guy jumping out and swinging his bag at me''.

Relevant offers

Labour MP Trevor Mallard has been caught up in a police investigation into an alleged road rage incident in central Wellington.

Mr Mallard says he was forced to defend himself from a driver on Willis St who drove through a group of cyclists then hit him with a bag.

"I very nearly fell off my bike from this guy jumping out and swinging his bag at me," he said. "I got my foot out of the [bike] pedal because I thought I was going to fall off and there was contact between my foot and his bag."

The car's occupants laid a complaint against Mr Mallard, but police would not give details of the complaint. They confirmed they knew of an incident but would not say if charges would be laid.

"All I can confirm is that I have been made aware of the incident and I am dealing with it," Wellington area commander Pete Cowan said.

Mr Mallard said he had been riding with a bunch of cyclists on Wednesday morning and was on the way back to Parliament about 8.10am when a car drove through the group "and got comments from a few of them".

A man then got out of the car and swung a bag at Mr Mallard.

When asked if he hit or grabbed the man, the MP said: "No, I defended myself against him. I didn't touch him at all."

When asked if the man hit him, he said: "Yes, he did hit me with his bag."

Mr Mallard said there was shouting from both sides over the incident, and he rode off.

He considered going to police himself, but decided against it. He was not aware of a complaint being lodged and had not been contacted by police.

"I think this might end up being a criminal matter for him and I'd prefer not to go into any more detail," he said.

Mr Mallard provided an email he said was from a cycling colleague who was there on Wednesday, saying: "If you want to take it further, I will back you up.

"I saw him stand by the car, step out and try and hit you with his bag," the email says.

"I saw you putting a hand up then I swerved out because I was sure you were going to go down and I was worried about hitting you."

Mr Mallard would not provide the man's name or any further details.

The Hutt South MP, who has a reputation as a "bovver boy", has been in a few tussles before.

In 2007, he was demoted from the Labour government's front bench after punching National MP Tau Henare while in the lobby of Parliament's debating chamber.

The matter got dragged through the courts, and the media, after a member of the public, Graham McCready, took a private prosecution. Mr Mallard pleaded guilty to a charge of fighting in a public place, was convicted and ordered to pay $500 to a drug and alcohol programme.

And in 2006, National MP Bob Clarkson laid a complaint against Mr Mallard over an "alleged assault", claiming he crossed the House and assaulted him by hitting him around the ears with a manila folder.

- © Fairfax NZ News