<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330139</docID> <postdate>2024-10-02 10:29:34</postdate> <headline>Boozy Bledisloe brawl lands Aust diplomat in hot water</headline> <body><p><img class="wp-image-330140" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20230425001790639061-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>There has reportedly been a "punch-up" involving a partner of an Australian diplomat in Wellington. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Ben McKay</b> in Wellington</span></p> <p><strong>New Zealand is asking Australia to waive diplomatic immunity for the partner of a diplomat allegedly involved in a boozy fight after the Bledisloe Cup match.</strong></p> <p>An altercation between three people in downtown Wellington at about 3.30am on Sunday attracted the attention of local police.</p> <p>The incident has been described privately to AAP as a "drunken punch-up" involving the male partner of an Australian diplomat stationed in the Kiwi capital.</p> <p>"Police took one person into custody who was later released without charge after it was confirmed they held diplomatic immunity," a NZ Police spokeswoman said.</p> <p>The identity of the man has not been released but it's understood the person involved is not the partner of Australia's High Commissioner in Wellington, Harinder Sidhu.</p> <p>The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade lists 18 Wellington-based staff on its website, along with six male partners, who are offered the benefit of diplomatic immunity.</p> <p>Diplomatic immunity is a right afforded to representatives based overseas that allows them freedom to conduct diplomatic business without being arrested or detained.</p> <p>However, owing to the seriousness of the alleged crime, NZ police confirmed they had begun a process to have the immunity stripped.</p> <p>A decision on whether to revoke the privilege is likely to fall to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.</p> <p>The foreign affairs department is yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident, which was first reported by Sky News.</p> <p>It is understood the man was wearing Wallabies supporter gear during the time of the street fight.</p> <p>Hours earlier the Australian men's rugby side lost 33-13 at Sky Stadium, the ninth-straight All Blacks win over the Wallabies.</p> <p>New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it had contacted Australia's High Commission over the incident.</p> <p>"It is the expectation of the government of New Zealand that foreign representatives and their accredited family members will comply with New Zealand laws and regulations," a ministry spokeswoman said.</p> </body>