NZ minister comes under attack while walking to work

WELLINGTON, Mar 14 (AP): A New Zealand government minister said he was punched in the face on Thursday while walking to work in an attack that's rare in a country where politicians often mingle with the public in stores, bars and sports arenas.
James Shaw, the Climate Change Minister and co-leader of the Green Party, was walking past Wellington's Botanic Garden just before 8.0 am when a man started talking to him before grabbing him and punching him several times, said Shaw's press secretary, Peter Stevens.
Stevens said two people came along to help and the man jumped in a car and drove away. Shaw suffered a black eye and grazes on his wrist and was being assessed at Wellington Hospital, Stevens said.