Extraordinary footage has emerged of what appears to be an Australian diplomat’s partner swearing at police and shouting a homophobic slur during their dramatic arrest after a night out.
New Zealand Police have confirmed they are requesting a waiver of diplomatic immunity after a man was arrested at 3.30am on Dixon Street in Wellington on September 29.
The alleged incident took place hours after the All Blacks rugby team beat the Australian Wallabies 33-13 in the country’s capital to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the 22nd consecutive year.
Police responded to reports of a fight and allegedly found a man involved in an altercation with two teenagers before he was handcuffed.
The melee was filmed by another teenager, 19, who claimed his friends were confronted by an aggressive man.
Footage shows the man, believed to be an associate of an Australian diplomat, swearing at police after they allegedly used a homophobic slur.
“You fucking stupid, I have diplomatic immunity, you f***ing person,” he can be heard shouting in a video. proportioned to things.
A man believed to be an associate of an Australian diplomat was reportedly arrested after an altercation in Wellington, New Zealand, at 3.30am on September 29.
A police spokeswoman confirmed that a man was detained but later released without charge due to his diplomatic immunity.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was aware of the video.
The teen who filmed the arrest claimed the man “just flipped a switch and got very aggressive” with his friends.
“He shouted at us at the top of his lungs, ‘I’m ready to die, I’m going to take on you three,’ and that’s when I got a little scared,” he told Stuff.
The video shows the man pressed against a wall during his arrest and another photo taken by the teen also shows him handcuffed, lying face down in the street.
The alleged incident occurred hours after the All Blacks defeated
New Zealand police are now seeking to waive the man’s diplomatic immunity so charges can be laid, but have not specified what charges.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement that all diplomats are expected to respect the laws of their host country.
“Deployed officials and their dependents are expected to respect the law of the countries to which they are posted,” he told the The age read.
Ministers from both New Zealand and Australia have reportedly been briefed on the issue.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it expects foreign nations to waive immunity if “a serious crime is alleged to have been committed.”
The man allegedly confronted three teenagers, one of whom filmed the arrest, where he is seen shouting that he has diplomatic immunity.
Former New Zealand diplomat Peter Hamilton told Stuff that the diplomat in question is likely to be removed from his position.
‘It is a serious case because it is an embarrassing issue. (Australia) could choose to recall the diplomat as has happened in the past and send him home,’ he said.
Hamilton added that New Zealand also has the option of expel the diplomat.
