NZ First MP Shane Jones and his wife were at Auckland Airport when the incident happened. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Dot Jones - wife of New Zealand First MP Shane Jones - has allegedly been assaulted at Auckland Airport.
A spokesperson for the minister said Jones and his wife were waiting for a flight, when he was verbally abused and his wife assaulted.
The spokesperson said Dot Jones spoke to police after the incident and charges were expected to be laid.
Auckland Airport said the incident occurred on Saturday in the domestic terminal and the airport was supporting police with their investigation into the incident.
Dot Jones told the NZ Herald the incident happened about 7.30am.
She claimed a man started yelling abuse at her husband, including racial slurs and comments about Winston Peters.
"It got so aggressive," she told the Herald. "We thought he was joking then realised quite quickly he was serious."
She told the Herald she went to place her hand between the two and told the man to go away, and his nose hit her palm.
"He said I assaulted him and he wanted my name."
As she turned to walk away, she said he grabbed her by the shoulder, and Shane Jones said he saw his wife stumble.
"The airport security team had staff on site following the incident," an airport spokesperson said. "Auckland Airport has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and takes matters like this seriously."
Police said no injuries were reported as a result of the confrontation.
Shane and Dot Jones have declined to comment to RNZ as the matter is now with police.
