MP fined for drink driving

Mark Peck pictured at the Auckland rehab retreat where he has been fighting to overcome his battle with alcohol. File picture / Kenny Rodger

Labour MP Mark Peck was today convicted and fined in the Queenstown District Court after pleading guilty to drink driving.

Mr Peck, MP for Invercargill, was appearing following his January 12 accident in which he rolled his car and had to be cut from the wreckage.

He did not suffer any serious injuries but was found to be over the legal blood alcohol limit when tested in hospital.

He went public about his alcohol addiction in February and is taking part in a programme to treat it. He says alcoholism was the route of his problem and the cause of the accident.

In court today, Judge Noel Walsh convicted Mr Peck, 51, on one charge of drunken driving and one of careless driving and fined him a total of $1000. He also lost his licence for six months.

After the hearing Mr Peck said he now felt "very sober".

He said he did not know how he would have survived his "very public punishment" without the support of his family and friends, including his parliamentary colleagues.

Mr Peck will not be standing for the re-election at the next election but said he has a lot of work to do in his constituency before he stands down from Parliament.


- Additional reporting NEWSTALK ZB