Wong Pansy: Manukau City Council (Control of Graffiti) Bill — In Committee 
Wong Pansy: Manukau City Council (Control of Graffiti) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:646;Page:15317] 
PANSY WONG (National) 
: 
 I am delighted to be able to take a call to support the MPs from South Auckland. Last Monday I attended the first Manukau economic summit for this year. It was very heartening to hear the Mayor Len Brown articulating that one of the frustrating things about the tag name of South Auckland is that it is a turn-off for the business community and the people who live down there because it gives the impression that it is a city full of problems. I want to congratulate the Manukau City Council. That is why it took up the initiative and said it wants to focus on beautifying the city. One has pride living in a city only when the physical environment can match the people who live there. I want to congratulate the council and I also want to send my sympathy for the frustration the council has felt in terms of waiting to start work with one of the biggest problems it faces—the tagging or graffiti issue. The council sought help from central government the Labour Government in 2004 but without much luck. Eventually it was forced to draft a bill that is seen to be a champion. 
It is just as well the council has chosen George Hawkins MP because he has relentlessly stayed with this bill. He has taken it all the way for the past 2 years. I would like to see the Parliament support the Manukau City Council which has tried to build the pride of its people in the city and support an MP who has staunchly championed this bill through the House. I hope that when the bill passes its Committee stage tonight it does not see another setback. For far too long we have seen the Labour Government not listening to community concerns but at long last—this is 2008 election year—the Manukau City Council may see the bill which it started 2 years ago come to a happy ending to give it additional tools to tackle the problem in Manukau City. I also want to welcome our newest member to the Parliament Su’a William Sio the former Deputy Mayor of the Manukau City Council. I think it will be a good gift to him to see a bill that was started 2 years ago when he was on the council pass through the House. 
One has to reflect on the ironic arguments that have been put up by Labour members on the Local Government and Environment Committee. They criticised the Manukau City Council legislation for breaching the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act when it is proposes banning the sale of spray-paint to people under 18 years of age. We then find the same provision in the Government bill and we have to see what brings about that U-turn in attitude. 
I take great pleasure in taking a call tonight mainly to send a compliment to the Manukau City Council which is totally committed to ensuring pride in the city is started by cleaning up those acts. It is sending a very strong statement to all those budding artists—as my diligent and effective colleague Judith Collins would say—to practise on their own property and leave other people’s property and public property alone. I think respect and collective responsibility in the communities start in a small way. That small way is about respecting other people’s rights and property. In taking this call I want also to send my respect to the MP George Hawkins who for the last 2 years has not given up championing the cause for the city that he is part of.