Chris Carter

Wellington, Feb 12 NZPA - Labour MP Chris Carter says the diversion of an Auckland harbour ferry to pick him up was just the action of a good company that would do it for anyone.

More than 50 ferry passengers heading to Waiheke Island last night were taken off-course to pick up Mr Carter from Devonport where earlier in the evening he mistakenly taken a ferry to.

Some ferries to Waiheke stop off at Devonport during the day, but in the evening they go straight on to the island.

Mr Carter also had the option of returning to Auckland and catching the next ferry, at 11.45pm, but ferry company Fullers asked the 10.15pm sailing to stop off.

National Party activist David Farrar suggested on his blog that Mr Carter had received special treatment, but Mr Carter said he had not asked for it and the company said it had done it in the past.

"I did everything I could to avoid it, but the lovely people on the ferry had it all organised," Mr Carter said.

On the ferry he was greeted by former National Party president Michelle Boag, who recognised him and told the story to Mr Farrar.

Ms Boag agreed with Mr Carter that the ferry company had done no special favours.

"I would absolutely confirm that's what [Fullers, the ferry company] is like. If it was me or anyone else they would have done the same thing," she said.

Fullers operations manager Ian Greenslade said the decision had been made without knowledge of Mr Carter's identity and a diversion, while rare, had been made for other passengers in the past.

There had been 54 passengers on board the diverted ferry, which was delayed by 2-1/2 minutes by picking up Mr Carter, Mr Greenslade said.

Mr Farrar estimated it would have added 15 minutes to the journey.

Mr Carter has had problems with travel in the past with media highlighting his very high travel expenses as a minister and MP.