Tractor charge against MP dropped

11.30am

An elated National MP Shane Ardern said today's dismissal of a charge against him for driving a tractor up parliament's steps was "a victory for common sense".

Judge Ian Mill told Mr Ardern in Wellington District Court that police had decided to drop the prosecution for disorderly behaviour.

Police said they had decided to caution Mr Ardern instead.

But Mr Ardern, speaking outside the court today, suggested the decision to prosecute him had been politically influenced.

He declined to put a name to his suspicions, but said it was "an irony" that the decision to drop the charges had come when the Prime Minister was overseas.

At a November 25 hearing, Judge Mill said it was unfortunate the case had been brought before a court.

"Other powers and agendas" seemed determined for it to proceed and he had no choice but to set down a court date, he said.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Brendon Erasmuson said at the earlier hearing he was under "instructions" to proceed.

The judge then told police prosecutors to think about whether they wanted to pursue the case.

National manager of the Police Prosecution Service, Superintendent Graham Thomas, said today police decided to withdraw the charge and give Mr Ardern a formal warning after fully evaluating the judge's comments.

"I am satisfied the decision to put Mr Ardern's case back before the court was the right one given its profile and the police view that there was a prima facie case for Mr Ardern to answer," he said in a statement.

"In light of the hearing, I considered it appropriate to now seek the leave of the court to withdraw the charge and the court has agreed."

The warning was conveyed in writing to Mr Ardern.

Mr Ardern today questioned what made police want to drop charges.

"What's changed from last week?" he said, declining to answer his own question.

He said he could not say who was behind the decision to prosecute.

However, he said he was sure the case had raised his political profile, and thanked Prime Minister Helen Clark for helping him.

"I don't think it's done any harm at all," he told reporters.

Helen Clark has vigorously denied there had been political influence on the decision to prosecute Mr Ardern.

Mr Ardern drove the tractor up the steps in September 4 while protesting against the Government's "flatulence tax", which has since been abandoned.

Defence counsel Robert Lithgow said the "political component" to the case was a mystery to him.

However, the judge's instructions last week for police to consider the prosecution were normal practice, he said.

- NZPA