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Media Release – 20 March 2008

Manukau seeks to strengthen graffiti bill

Manukau City Council has received positive feedback from members of Parliament after its submission on the government’s new anti-graffiti Bill.

Parliament’s Law and Order select committee met in Manukau city on Wednesday, 19 March to hear submissions on the government’s Summary Offences (Tagging and Graffiti Vandalism) Amendment Bill.

The Bill seeks to ban the sale of spray cans to under-18s, creates a new graffiti vandalism offence punishable by a fine and/or community sentence, increases fines and requires secure storage of spray cans in shops.

It builds on some key parts of Manukau’s own control of graffiti Bill, which is still before Parliament.

Mayor of Manukau Len Brown, with Cr Dick Quax, presented the council’s submission.

Mr Brown is pleased with the feedback from select committee members.

“The Parliamentary team was very positive about our submissions and very complimentary. Members appreciated the leadership Manukau has shown all these years in fighting graffiti and producing our own Bill.

“I’m hopeful that they will pick up a number of our suggestions from the Manukau Bill and incorporate them in the national legislation to make it as effective as possible,” says Mr Brown.

Suggested improvements include making graffiti offenders liable for both a fine and a community-based sentence and making carrying a graffiti implement an offence under certain circumstances.

The council’s submission also suggested it be an offence to supply spray cans to under 18s.

This would recognise that older people could buy the spray cans and then pass them on to the youngsters.

Mr Brown says the council will continue to back its own Bill, “but we also recognise in return that in order to get the very best outcome, we need a national Bill in place.

“And we are looking forward to getting this happening as soon as possible.”

The select committee’s report back to Parliament is due by 21 April.

For more details of the council’s submission visit the council’s website at www.manukau.govt.nz

ENDS

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