Posie Parker tour of NZ: Marama Davidson hit by rider in motorbike convoy

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. Photo / NZME

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has been knocked to the ground by a motorbike that struck her at a pedestrian crossing ahead of today’s counter-protest against British anti-transgender activist Posie Parker.

The rider who hit Davidson was part of a convoy of motorcyclists, according to a protester who said the Greens leader was trying to stop traffic to help her cross the road.

Among those at the protest were Brian Tamaki and his Destiny Church supporters - a section of whom were on motorcycles.

Davidson required medical attention after the incident at 10.40am on Princes St in Auckland’s city centre, which was reported to police, Greens co-leader James Shaw said.

Police said they are making inquiries into a “collision between a motorcycle and a pedestrian near Albert Park today”.

“Ambulance was not required, we understand that the pedestrian sought medical advice,” a police spokesperson said.

Davidson attended today’s rally to support trans and non-binary human rights.

However, before the rally, a witness told the Herald, Davidson was hurt while trying to help her cross a pedestrian crossing that the bikes failed to stop at.

The witness had been walking across the pedestrian crossing, she said, when a convoy of motorbikes suddenly appeared, travelling at speed.

The riders were putting on a show of revving their bikes, “making a lot of noise”, she said.

It forced the woman to stop halfway across the road on a raised section as the bikes started whizzing by.

“I just stood there because they wouldn’t stop and they were very fast, like really speeding,” the witness said.

She said the riders would have all seen that she had been crossing the road as they were approaching.

“So Marama Davidson tried to come to tell them to stop, like you usually do on a pedestrian crossing,” she said.

“And if she had stepped a centimetre more, she would have been run over.”

Our love goes out to @maramadavidson who is now safely resting at home with whānau after an incident today.

We stand with our trans & non-binary whānau and we stand with our co-leader. Our commitment to inclusivity and non-violence is stronger than ever.

Aroha mai, aroha atu.

— Green Party NZ (@NZGreens) March 25, 2023

Davidson was instead hit in the stomach by the handlebars of one of the bikes, the witness said.

Once the bikes had passed, the witness ran across the road to Davidson, who was also being spoken to by supporters of the Green Party.

“She was pretty hurt, you could see that,” the woman said.

“We wanted to offer her some water and we asked her whether we should take her to the clinic or to a hospital.”

Davidson told those around her she was all right.

However, Shaw later said Davidson is seeing a doctor.

With the incident having been reported to police, Shaw said the party would not be making any further comment until the police have confirmed their next steps.

He said the news had been upsetting and “we are asking people to show care and love”.

“We ask everyone to give Marama and her whānau some space and time to process what has happened.”

Shaw said the Green Party stood with its trans and non-binary whānau.

“Aotearoa should be a place where everyone can live their lives without fear of hate or discrimination.”

The witness said the hit from the motorbike had left a black mark on Davidson’s shirt, across her stomach.

“She was hit pretty bad.”

She said she could see clearly the Man Up logo, representing a help programme run by Destiny Church, on the jackets of the riders.

It suggested the riders were clearly supporters of the Tamakis, the witness said.