Bus driver blames QLDC 'morons' for $60 fine as he helps stroke victim

A Queenstown bus driver is blaming the Queenstown Lakes District Council for fining him $60 as he stopped to help a stroke victim passenger into her wheelchair.

Murray MacKay says his assistance was captured on CCTV but the council refused to waive the fine related to him stopping his bus for two minutes. Mr MacKay says he was not blocking traffic.

Crux has been unable at this stage to contact Mr MacKay but his social media comment has attracted widespread anger online.

"I drive a tourist coach. I bring many hundreds of people to Queenstown. These people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars with local businesses. Recently had a severely affected stroke victim on board. She couldn’t talk walk or control her body. I got a $60 fine for lifting her out of the coach and into her wheel chair. Pictures from security cameras clearly showed me lifting the woman I was there for 2 minutes. No traffic obstruction occurred. Well done morons at the council spend the money wisely."

Mr MacKay's reference to spending money is in response to coverage by Crux of more CCTV cameras being installed in the CBD, and his Facebook comment was linked to a post on this story.

Crux has approached the QLDC for comment.

Mr MacKay appears on the Ritchies Christchurch website as the subject of high praise from one of his tour operators.  

"Our driver Murray MacKay was the best driver I’ve toured with. He’s a talented singer, guitarist, ambulance driver/medic, ex policeman and just a genuinely lovely guy. The clients were thrilled with him and he really made the trip. Sharing the same sense of humour made him easy to get on with and I hope one day to have the pleasure of traveling with him again: Faye Spooner, Pukekohe Travel."