Charge follows attack on Shaw

A man who staged an ‘‘unprovoked’’ attack on Green Party coleader James Shaw yesterday was yelling about the United Nations, according to fellow minister David Parker.

Parker said Shaw had told him the perpetrator was ‘‘shouting things out about the United Nations’’.

Shaw was assessed at the scene as OK by ambulance staff and continued on his way to work for a ministerial meeting. He is understood to have suffered a black eye.

In a text to Stuff, Shaw said his injury ‘‘looks worse than it is’’.

After the morning meeting, Shaw checked into Wellington Hospital for a precautionary check up, a spokesman for the Green Party said. He later went home.

It’s alleged Shaw was grabbed then punched in the face and suffered a black eye in the attack just before 8am near the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

Fellow Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said Shaw was ‘‘shaken’’ as was the whole party.

‘‘There is nothing at this stage that indicates that this attack had anything to do with his political work,’’ she said.

It would be a shame to lose the access the public have to politicians in New Zealand, Davidson said.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said it was a ‘‘damn disgrace’’ and his sympathies went out to Shaw.

The attacker used Shaw’s name during the attack, indicating he knew who Shaw was, a Green Party spokesman said.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested and charged with ‘‘injuring with intent to injure’’.

Detective Senior Sergeant Warwick Mckee said the man would appear in Wellington District Court today.

Police had spoken to Shaw, who had some ‘‘fairly nasty injuries’’, Mckee said.

Two members of the public came to Shaw’s aid after the attack and called an ambulance.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was an ‘‘unprovoked and surprising thing to happen that has caught him offguard’’.

‘‘My thoughts are with James and also [his partner] Annabel. When you go into politics in New Zealand you just don’t expect these things to happen, and I know it will be especially challenging for loved ones.’’

‘‘There is nothing . . . that indicates this attack had anything to do with his political work.’’ Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson