Dot Jones told the Herald the couple had left their luggage at the regional airport check-in at around 7.30am and were making their way to the main food court area for breakfast when a man started shouting loudly at Jones. Much of the abuse involved offensive language and personal slurs.
As airport workers and other travellers watched, the man continued to shout abuse at Jones along with profane descriptions of NZ First leader and deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
“It got so aggressive. We thought he was joking then realised quite quickly he was serious.”
Shane Jones said: “I turned around and said ‘what did you say, mate’ and he came right up in my face and it was a full-throated spray. Then I realised he was addressing his vulgarity at me, that Winston and I would be dog tucker real soon.” [...]
He said: “There was nothing I could say to placate the guy. He was incandescent.”
Dot Jones said she turned to her husband and indicated they should go, turning and walking towards the food court for breakfast.
“My back was turned and he came up behind me and grabbed me. He grabbed my shoulder. It was all so quick.”
Shane Jones, who was a few steps behind, said he saw the man suddenly step past him and grab Dot Jones by the shoulder, turning her so as to cause a loss of balance.
“He had raced ahead to grab her and demand to know her name and for her to show him some identification. He came up from behind – she didn’t see him coming.”
He said his wife had recently recovered from a serious ankle injury and seeing her turn and attempt – successfully – to regain her balance caused concern she would fall and inflame the old injury. “I saw her stumble.”
As Dot Jones recovered her balance, Shane Jones said the man’s wife emerged to intervene, apologising profusely.
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On occasion, Dot Jones said she had accompanied her husband to political events at which there were protests and abuse hurled. In this instance, though, she said the couple were trying to return home and simply making their way through the airport in search of breakfast.
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