A Nelson woman accused of rubbing rat poison on the face of Nelson's MP has strongly denied the claim.
Rose Renton outside the Nelson District Court Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Rose Renton is defending a charge of offensive behaviour in the Nelson District Court.
Ms Renton said it started as a symbolic protest against a controversial poison drop at a Nelson wildlife sanctuary.
But Nick Smith calls it the most serious incident in his 27 years as Nelson MP.
Mr Smith said he had poison rubbed in his hair and clothes while Ms Renton maintained she only ever touched him lightly.
She strongly denied the claim in a case that opened in the Nelson District Court today before two Justices of the Peace.
Earlier this year, Ms Renton pleaded not guilty to an offensive behaviour charge, after a complaint by the former Environment Minister, Nick Smith.
Mr Smith, who is Nelson's MP, said two protesters rubbed rat poison on him while he was at his National Party caravan at the weekly Nelson Market last September.
He said the incident began with verbal abuse and throwing rat poison but escalated into shoving and rubbing the poison over his face and clothes.
Ms Renton and her partner were charged following a police inquiry.
The events of last September were captured on cell phones, but it is what they do not show that is in dispute.
In an interview with the police played in court today, Ms Renton said she was among residents of the Brook Valley reacting to an aerial drop of poison pellets in a nearby wildlife sanctuary.
"It was heartbreaking and a very emotional morning for the people that live there, and have lived and farmed up there - one for generations."
They blamed Mr Smith's administration for allowing the poison drop to happen.
Ms Renton and her partner took advantage of a large police presence at the sanctuary, and headed to the Nelson market, and Mr Smith's caravan.
"I suggested it would be a good idea to show Nick what it felt like to be violated by poison, and violated in a symbolic way, and I suggested chicken pellets or animal feed."
Defence lawyer Sue Grey asked Nick Smith if he was aware that inappropriate use of poison was harmful to the environment. Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Her partner suggested rat bait. They bought it off the shelf from the Warehouse on the way to Mr Smith's caravan.
Ms Renton denied witness statements she was seen rubbing the poison in Mr Smith's face, or that she threatened his family.
"I never touched Nick Smith's face, as he said in the media. I never shoved Nick Smith as he said in the media, and I never threatened his family, as Nick said in the media.
"The way I see it is Nick Smith is using his position as an MP to bully back."
Nick Smith calls it the most serious incident in his 27 years as Nelson MP Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Detective Fiona Hutchings told the court today the cell phone footage showed the pair putting their hands on Mr Smith's lapels but not on his face.
Mr Smith is adamant he got poison rubbed on his face and hair, but conceded the videos did not show the rat poison being thrown at him.
"The part of the incident that is not shown in either of those (two) videos that I did see was the throwing of the poison. I certainly saw pellets being thrown into the caravan, and later when we cleaned the caravan up they were found. And secondly, there was pellets or powder thrown to me ... or at me."
The debate then moved into a political tussle between defence lawyer Sue Grey who asked Mr Smith if he was aware that inappropriate use of poison was harmful to the environment.
He said he did not know he was on trial for decisions he had made as Environment Minister.
"I'm having difficulty in understanding where these conditions relate to an offensive incident..." Mr Smith said before Ms Grey interrupted.
"Would you just answer my questions Dr Smith because we've agreed it all depends on the circumstances. I'm asking you about the circumstances."
Mr Smith said he was happy to answer questions in Parliament about the policy he had as minister.
"I didn't think I was here before the court to answer questions about the government's policy."
Ms Renton told the police at the time if she had her time again she would not have have carried out what she described as a symbolic protest.
The hearing is set to continue.