Gang Insignia to be banned from All Government Buildings

Gang Insignia to be banned from All Government Buildings in New Zealand

National MP Todd McClay is to introduce a Members Bill to Parliament banning Gang Insignia from all government buildings in New Zealand.

"Wearing gang insignia in a Work and Income NZ or Housing NZ office, on the grounds of a public school or hospital will become a criminal offense" said Mr McClay, MP for Rotorua.

Mr McClay said that gangs serve no legitimate purpose in NZ society. They run much of the drug trade and are involved with organised crime. Intimidating behaviour by gangs will not be tolerated, he said

“Everyday members of the public seek assistance from government departments. Law abiding citizens deserve to be protected from intimidation and threat when they visit government buildings. When people work for the government they have the right to be protected from the harm that gangs do,” he said.

"My message to gangs in this bill is clear. If you walk into a Work and Income office wearing a patch, the government will not serve you. Instead, a policeman will arrest you."

Mr McClay said that the National Government had passed a raft of legislation to target gang activity. This Bill is another step towards toughening up on gangs and sends a clear message to gang members whose purpose is to inflict misery and harm to individuals and communities.

Mr McClay said that his bill was modelled on the Wanganui Gang Insignia Act passed by Parliament in 2009 when Michael Laws was Mayor of Wanganui.

Any gang member who wears gang insignia in a government building will face a fine of up to $2000 with the insignia destroyed

“Gang members wear their insignia as a badge of pride. It gives them arrogance to intimidate law abiding members of the public. Patches identify the wearer as a member of a criminal organization who has most likely committed crimes to earn the right to display a gang patch. This is appalling and there is no place for it in Work and Income NZ, Housing NZ offices, or any other government building in this country,” he said.

Mr McClay said “For those who are concerned about civil liberty I will always put the needs of victims and government employees before the rights of gangs whose sole purpose seems to be to harm others, commit crimes and manufacture and sell drugs to our children.”

Editors Note:

Housing New Zealand Residential houses and Department of Conservation land will be exempt from the Bill. The grounds of public schools, ECE centres and DHBs will be included.

Below is a list of government departments and Crown Agencies to be cover by the Bill.

Departments of the Public Service
• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
• Department of Building and Housing
• Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority
• Department of Conservation.
• Department of Corrections.
• Crown Law Office.
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• Ministry of Defence
• Ministry of Economic Development
• Ministry of Education.
• Education Review Office.
• Ministry for the Environment.
• Ministry of Fisheries.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Government Communications Security Bureau
• Ministry of Health
• Inland Revenue Department.
• Department of Internal Affairs.
• Ministry of Justice.
• Department of Labour.
• Land Information New Zealand.
• Ministry of Maori Development.
• Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
• New Zealand Customs Service.
• Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
• Ministry of Science and Innovation
• Serious Fraud Office.
• Ministry of Social Development.
• State Services Commission.
• Statistics New Zealand.
• Ministry of Transport.
• The Treasury.
• Ministry of Women's Affairs.
Crown agents

• Accident Compensation Corporation
• Career Services
• Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand
• Crown Health Financing Agency
• District Health Boards
• Earthquake Commission
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
• Health Quality and Safety Commission
• Health Research Council of New Zealand
• Health Sponsorship Council
• Housing New Zealand Corporation
• Legal Services Agency
• Maritime Safety Authority of New Zealand
• New Zealand Antarctic Institute
• New Zealand Blood Service
• New Zealand Fire Service Commission
• New Zealand Qualifications Authority
• New Zealand Tourism Board
• New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
• New Zealand Transport Agency
• New Zealand Walking Access Commission
• Pharmaceutical Management Agency
• Real Estate Agents Authority
• Social Workers Registration Board
• Sport and Recreation New Zealand
• Tertiary Education Commission

Autonomous Crown entities
• Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand
• Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa
• Broadcasting Commission
• Charities Commission
• Environmental Risk Management Authority
• Families Commission
• Government Superannuation Fund Authority
• Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation
• Mental Health Commission
• Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board
• New Zealand Artificial Limb Board
• New Zealand Film Commission
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust (Pouhere Taonga)
• New Zealand Lotteries Commission
• New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
• New Zealand Teachers Council
• Public Trust
• Retirement Commissioner
• Standards Council
• Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency)
• Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission)
• Testing Laboratory Registration Council

Independent Crown entities
Accounting Standards Review Board
Broadcasting Standards Authority
Children's Commissioner
Commerce Commission
Drug Free Sport New Zealand
Electricity Authority
Electoral Commission
Financial Markets Authority
Health and Disability Commissioner
Human Rights Commission
Independent Police Conduct Authority
Law Commission
New Zealand Productivity Commission
Office of Film and Literature Classification
Privacy Commissioner
Takeovers Panel
Transport Accident Investigation Commission