Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / ASIA-PACIFIC
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Friday, 12 November, 2004, 12:49 GMT

NZ police charged over PM's dash

Five police officers have been charged with dangerous driving after racing to get New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark to a rugby match.

A government chauffeur also faces charges for the dash. The motorcade took just 96 minutes to make the 206km (129 mile) journey.

The incident was investigated after members of the public complained.

Ms Clark was criticised at the time for the race, but responded that she had no control over transport arrangements.

The six men are due to appear in court on 14 December. Assistant Commissioner Peter Marshall said the five officers could be sacked if found guilty.

They had been trying to get Ms Clark to Wellington in time to watch New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, defeat the Australian Wallabies in July.

She had been attending a civic birthday celebration in the town of Waimate, on South Island, and had been due to catch a flight from nearby Timaru to Wellington in time for the evening test match.

But the flight was cancelled, and her party decided to race for Christchurch Airport, from where she flew to Wellington.

The speed limit in New Zealand is 100kph (62mph) on open roads and 50kph (31mph) in towns.

Waimate Mayor David Owen said at the time that the three-car entourage left "like a bat out of hell".




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
NZ PM's dash for match probed (21 Jul 04 |  Asia-Pacific )
Profile: Helen Clark (10 Jul 03 |  Asia-Pacific )
Country profile: New Zealand (08 Jul 03 |  Country profiles )
New Zealand premier 'faked' painting (15 Apr 02 |  Asia-Pacific )
NZ premier denies royal snub (23 Feb 02 |  South Asia )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
New Zealand Government
New Zealand Prime Minister
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©