Acting PM's drivers cross the line

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 English's locks were styled at a ritzy Wellington salon.

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

The cars remained illegally parked for about 50 minutes on Thursday and did not move until a freshly-coiffed 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 on Thursday afternoon. "For someone like that, that's just taking it for granted [that he has the right to park anywhere]."

A spokesman for 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"

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.

English is acting Prime Minister while John Key attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

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 said 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," said Todd.

"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 English, is 500 metres – or a six-minute walk – from the Beehive.

A quick phone call to the salon confirmed English had his hair cut there.

English's spokesman said the minister often walked to appointments in the central city, but the back injury meant he could not walk to get his hair cut.

Internal Affairs spokesman Tony Wallace said Crown limo drivers cannot just park anywhere.

"Chauffeur staff must abide by the road rules like everyone else," he said.

"If an infringement is committed, then we expect our staff to provide the appropriate explanation, accept responsibility and deal with any penalty."

Wallace said the driver of 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 Todd talked to the driver.

"There wasn't any hindrance to anybody using that zone."

But Todd said the Commodore was never moved out of the mobility zone.

Photographs show it still partially parked in the zone when English left the salon.

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

Chief executive of CCS Disability Action Vivian Maidaborn 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 haircut wouldn't be up there, I don't think."

CAR TROUBLE

In July 2004, then-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 spotted in a disabled parking spot outside a Wellington supermarket, in May 1997.

Internal Affairs Minister Jack Elder admitted his wife was driven to a West Auckland video store by a chauffeur in a Government limousine. Elder said she was dropping off a video on her way to an official function.

In the early 1970s, former Labour MP Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan used a government limousine to carry dresses to a boutique which she had near Wellington's Willis Street.

- © Fairfax NZ News