Work proves just the ticket for Havoc

Mikey Havoc claimed he had been approached after his case for an autograph. Photo / Peter Meecham

When Push Push came to shove shove, rocker-turned-broadcaster Mikey Havoc had to deal with almost $40,000 in parking fines and court costs.

Court documents made available this week reveal Havoc ran up $21,352 in tickets and another $17,900 in costs added on by court staff trying to collect the debt. They also reveal the $171-an-hour deal that got them scrapped.

The Herald on Sunday revealed last year Havoc, who made his name with rock band Push Push before hosting TV and radio shows, won a bid to have his fines converted into community service.

The process is standard and allows people with high levels of fines to trade the debt for community work.

When the deal was reported, Havoc refused to admit the level of fines or the amount of community service it was swapped for. Details revealed last week by Waitakere District Court show he owed $39,252 from an 11-year period ending last August.

Court records show Judge Heemi Taumaunu told Havoc: "Ordinarily I would impose a very substantial amount of community work."

He said the level of debt would normally result in 400 hours, the maximum level.

However, Taumaunu said he would waive the enforcement fees and hand out 230 hours of community service instead. On the original debt, that works out at $171 an hour.

The community service arrangement attracted attention after it emerged Havoc planned to work off his debt by DJing for the Auckland University Students Association.

This appeared to skirt Department of Corrections rules because Havoc is breakfast host on 95bFM, the association's radio station. Rules state offenders can't do their service for their employer.

Corrections intervened and told Havoc he had to find a new way to work off the 230 hours.

The Herald on Sunday has also learned the department rejected a claim by Havoc he was asked for an autograph by a member of the fines collection staff.

Havoc wrote on a blog he had been approached after the case for an autograph.

In a letter to Havoc, Ministry of Justice national collection manager Bryre Patchell said an investigation showed "the only signature requested from you ... by a collections staff member was for you to sign your community work order when it was served on you, as is the normal practice".

Havoc was reluctant to discuss the case last week and refused to reveal details of his community service plans.

He "didn't think" he had got another parking ticket since August. "The car's been off the road for most of the time since then."

Havoc also said the level of his fines wasn't interesting and should not be written about: "I'd like to ask you to find five people who give a f***."

david.fisher@hos.co.nz