The Len Brown he travelled to the interview in is parked across a cycle lane.
Mayor Len Brown has been snapped parking across a cycle lane on a busy Auckland road - and his flippant apology on social media has created outrage.
Mr Brown was photographed by a Herald reader being interviewed on Carlton Gore Rd this morning.
The car he travelled to the interview in is parked across a cycle lane.
It is an electric car with Auckland Council branding and is next to a recharge station.
Photos clearly show the car was blocking most of a bike lane.
The Herald asked Mr Brown for an explanation and he waited an hour before responding, posting an "apology" on Twitter and Facebook.
Mr Brown refused to answer specific questions about the situation including whether he thought it was OK for people to block cycle lanes.
When asked for further comment on the matter Mr Brown's spokesman Glyn Jones said: "The tweet and Facebook post answer all your questions. The test drive and refill of the EV was covered by media."
The post was met with incredulity on social media.
• "If the mayor can park in a bike lane, then I can too right?" said a member of the Facebook group Bike lanes are for bikes.
• Juliet Williams said: " Parking illegally and showcasing it isn't really a great call..."
• "Just stopped at Manukau City for a burger. Can't be bothered looking for a park, briefly impinging on the disabled parking," Barry Morgan wrote.
• Said Angus McGyver: Leading by example I see. Find a park somewhere else! Bike lanes are for bikes."
• "It's only safety involved. No worries. As long as you're ok," Bryce Pearce replied.
Others raised questions about the position of the filling station.
• "Doesn't that demonstrate that the charging station has been placed without any consideration for the design of the rest of the road environment?" said James Fluker.
He might be making light of his parking faux pa, but Mayor Len Brown has technically broken the law by parking across the cycle lane.
But police will not be taking action as Auckland Council are the lead authority for parking infringements in the city.
A police spokesman told the Herald, in response to seeing the photograph of Mr Brown's car parked across a cycle lane: "It is an offence under the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 to park in a special vehicle lane which includes cycle lanes."
He added that whether a motorist was charged with the offence depended on specific circumstances and road design.
"Auckland Council has the lead for parking enforcement in the city we would refer you to them for any further comment."
It's understood a NZDF aircraft and multiple helicopters are involved.