Police drop Mallard investigation

Police are no longer investigating a road rage complaint against Labour MP Trevor Mallard, saying the parties have "agreed to disagree".

Mr Mallard was last month on a regular morning ride in Wellington with four or five friends when an incident occurred.

He said at the time he had reached Willis Street in the city centre when a car behind them hooted loudly. He pulled left and the car went past, cutting him off.

"I briefly remonstrated with the occupants of the car but they accelerated and went through the Ghuznee Street lights - which had changed to red.

"I stopped but caught up again at the Manners Street intersection, told them they were dangerous and a brief, heated verbal exchange resulted."

Interaction between the two continued, culminating in Mr Mallard claiming the passenger got out of the car and swung a bag at him, and the passenger claiming Mr Mallard took a swing at him.

Wellington area commander Pete Cowan told The Dominion Post newspaper the accounts of Mr Mallard and several witnesses were "at odds with the initial complaint".

"We discussed it at length and agreed to disagree with the two different versions of events."

- NZPA