Bill English's convoy flouts law

CUTTING IT FINE: Fabian Todd, in wheelchair, points out that the DPS Commodore is parked across a mobility parking zone.

HAIR TODAY: Bill English gets into his Crown car, parked on broken yellow lines, after his haircut.

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Acting Prime Minister Bill English's ministerial convoy broke two laws while waiting for him to get a haircut.

His Crown limo was parked on broken yellow lines and his security guards partially parked their Holden Commodore across a mobility parking zone while Mr English's locks were styled at a downtown salon.

His security detail – members of the Diplomatic Protection Squad – now face a $150 fine and his own driver can expect a $60 ticket from Wellington City Council.

The cars remained illegally parked for about 50 minutes on Thursday afternoon and did not move until Mr English emerged and got into his limo.

"That's just not on," said Fabian Todd, the council's mobility parks co-ordinator, who spotted the convoy parked illegally in Johnston St. "For someone like that, that's just taking it for granted [that he has the right to park anywhere]."

A spokesman for Mr English said he was dropped off at his hair appointment and that parking was the responsibility of the drivers.

He had not attended Parliament on Thursday because he had a back injury, his spokesman said.

Mr Todd said he spotted the DPS car partially parked in a mobility zone set aside for people with parking permits who might need extra room to access their vehicles. It was parked behind a BMW limo normally used by the prime minister, which had stopped on broken yellow lines and was blocking a garage.

Mr English is acting prime minister while John Key attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad.

Mr Todd, who is in a wheelchair after a mountain bike accident about four years ago, confronted the driver of the Commodore and asked him to move. He says he was met with an arrogant refusal, which prompted him to make an official complaint to the council's parking department.

"We don't stand for anyone parking in those parks. I'm in a wheelchair myself. It's quite important that they are left free. Why couldn't he just walk around the corner?"

Haight Ashbury, the boutique salon that groomed Mr English, is half a kilometre – or a six-minute walk – from the Beehive.

A phone call to the salon, where a man's cut and blow dry costs between $35 and $70, confirmed Mr English had his hair cut there.

Mr English's spokesman said the minister often walked to appointments in the central city, but the back injury meant he could not walk that day.

Internal Affairs spokesman Tony Wallace said Crown limo drivers could not park wherever they chose. "Chauffeur staff must abide by the road rules like everyone else. If an infringement is committed, then we expect our staff to provide the appropriate explanation, accept responsibility and deal with any penalty."

Mr Wallace said the driver of Mr English's limo would have to pay any fine himself.

A police spokesman said the DPS car was not in a mobility park, but admitted it was "close to it". He said the Commodore was attended by a driver at all times and was moved after Mr Todd talked to the driver. "There wasn't any hindrance to anybody using that zone."

But Mr Todd said the Commodore was never moved out of the mobility zone. Photographs show it still partially parked in the zone when Mr English left the salon.

Mr Todd noted the registration of the vehicle and took photographs to back up his complaint. "It will be interesting to see if we get a response," he said. "I've got photographic evidence, so good luck."

Vivian Maidaborn, chief executive of CCS Disability Action, was surprised to hear a ministerial convoy had parked in a mobility zone. "There are some times when police are able to use those parks. A hair cut wouldn't be up there, I don't think."

Wellington has between 70 and 80 mobility car parks, making up about 2 percent of public parks in the city.

Car Trouble

In July 2004, prime minister Helen Clark's Crown limo motorcade hit speeds of up to 170kmh travelling between Waimate in South Canterbury and Christchurch Airport, so she could fly to an All Blacks test in Wellington. In November, Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu was spotted shopping at Chaffers New World while her Crown BMW limo was parked outside and her chauffeur waited for her. Broadcasting Minister Maurice Williamson faced criticism after his Crown limo was seen in a disabled parking spot outside a Wellington supermarket, in 1997. Also in 1997, Internal Affairs Minister Jack Elder admitted his wife was driven to a West Auckland video store by a chauffeur in a government limousine. He said she was dropping off a video en route to an official function. In the early 1970s, former Labour MP Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan used a government limo to take dresses to a boutique she had near Willis St, Wellington.

- © Fairfax NZ News