Mana Party leader Hone Harawira has been found guilty of failing to remove his vehicle blocking the removal of a state house.
Hone Harawira. Photo: RNZ
The MP for Te Tai Tokerau was accused of failing to remove his vehicle during a protest against the removal of state homes in the Auckland suburb of Glen Innes in October 2012.
Police said officers asked Mr Harawira to move his car in a reasonable and clear manner. He did not comply and was arrested and charged.
Mr Harawira, who defended himself, maintained his car did not pose a threat to road safety or the public.
Ten people at the protest told the court that Mr Harawira's car lights were ensuring the safety of three demonstrators who were on the roof of the house.
In his decision, Judge Stan Thornburn on Thursday acknowledged the passion of Hone Harawira and witnesses at the protest, but said it came down to the narrow elements of the charge.
Judge Thornburn said Mr Harawira was the driver of the vehicle which was obstructing an entrance way and when asked by police to move it, he made deliberate attempts to ignore them.
The judge fined the MP $500, plus court costs of $32. The charge carried a maximum fine of $10,000.
Outside court, Hone Harawira said he wouldn't do the same thing again if the situation arose, but at the time it seemed like the right thing to do.
"I'm the first MP to be arrested since the 1951 waterfront lockout. You don't do that sort of thing just as a matter of course. Even on the night in question I had no intention of getting arrested."
