Harawira in trouble for his helmet-less bike ride

Hone Harawira. Photo / Richard Robinson

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira is in trouble again - this time for riding a motorbike on Parliament's forecourt without wearing a helmet, it was reported last night.

Mr Harawira has been embroiled in a serious row about an unauthorised trip to Paris while on a parliamentary visit to Europe and the racially offensive email he sent in defence of it.

He was allowed to stay in the party but was sent on leave until Parliament resumes after the summer break.

The motorbike incident happened two months ago, when he met a group of anti-violence demonstrators on the forecourt and took a short ride on one of their bikes.

It was pointed out at the time that he wasn't wearing a helmet, but he laughed it off.

TVNZ's One News reported last night that a couple of viewers had complained to the police.

TVNZ sought a legal opinion, which was that any area the public has access to can be defined as a road. The public has access to Parliament's forecourt and the police now have to decide if the definition applies to it, and what to do about Mr Harawira if it does.

The report said Mr Harawira's initial response to the complaint was "pretty much unrepeatable" and he then refused to comment.

- NZPA