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Kaikōura District Councilor Neil Pablecheque received a formal warning from the police after a complaint that he “attacked” a truck driver for parking in the wrong place.
Kaikōura (file image).
Photo: RNZ / Logan Church
Truckie John Bradshaw told the Kaikōura Star he’d parked in a tarred area behind the Lobster Inn to pick up crates of beer bottles earlier this month.
“A woman ran out and told me she couldn’t park there, apparently someone in a truck had broken the tar in the past, but there was nowhere else to manually load a hundred boxes,” Bradshaw said.
The woman had called Pablecheque, owner of the Lobster Inn motel complex, Bradshaw said.
“He came out in a rage and grabbed me by the chest and pushed and punched me and tore my work shirt. He actually lifted me off the ground.
“Nothing like this has ever happened in 25 years on the job.”
The shocked trucker reported the encounter to the police.
“It was all on security cameras, so they took a look at the footage and asked me if I wanted to be charged with assault, but I’d rather have people find out than take it to court,” Bradshaw said.
Sergeant Matt Boyce confirmed that police had issued Pablecheque a formal warning.
Bradshaw said he would have liked to receive an apology from the councilor, but did not receive one.
“He refused, he was really rude and arrogant. People should know if one of his councilors behaves like this, they are supposed to be honest members of the community.”
Bradshaw said he had also called the council to tell Mayor Craig Mackle what had happened and was disappointed that the mayor had not returned his call.
the Star He repeatedly approached both Pablecheque and Mackle for comment, but neither responded.
The Kaikōura District Council Code of Conduct says that elected members “shall avoid aggressive, intimidating or offensive conduct towards each other and treat persons, including members, with respect and courtesy.”
Local Democracy Reporting is a public interest news service supported by RNZ, the Association of News Publishers and NZ On Air.
