KEY POINTS:
National MP John Carter has apologised to Northland police for his angry exchange with a traffic officer - but kept the incident from party leader John Key for days.
Mr Carter yesterday issued a statement saying he deeply regretted the incident between himself and a police officer, which occurred last Friday night when he was pulled over in Kaitaia for failing to indicate.
The Herald reported yesterday that Mr Carter swore at the officer when it was also suggested his vehicle was not registered, when in fact it was.
The Herald has been told Mr Carter was aggressive and intimidating towards the officer during what was a heated exchange.
He is said to have attempted to make a citizen's arrest of the policeman - something he denied - and that he told the officer: "I'll have your job for this."
He is also said to have tried to take the matter up with higher-ranking officers.
Northland's district commander, Superintendent Mike Rusbatch, last night said through a spokesman it was the first he had heard of an apparent threat to the policeman's job.
He said Mr Carter made an apology by phone on Monday.
"Superintendent Rusbatch has accepted that apology as a genuine apology and as far as he's concerned that's the end of the matter," the spokesman said.
Mr Carter - who admitted swearing during the exchange - said yesterday that he was "disappointed with my own conduct. I have offered a full and unreserved apology to the Northland police via their district commander.
"My behaviour was not appropriate for an MP and I am sorry," Mr Carter said.
News of the apology comes after he was phoned by National leader John Key, who knew nothing of the incident until the Herald contacted him on Wednesday night.
Mr Key said he had made it clear to Mr Carter that his behaviour was unacceptable and had been assured the Northland MP would apologise.
Mr Key told the Herald on Wednesday that he knew nothing of the incident - meaning Mr Carter did not tell him about it even after he made the apology on Monday.
Mr Carter received a $150 ticket for not indicating.
