Collins Judith: Manukau City Council (Control of Graffiti) Bill — In Committee 
Collins Judith: Manukau City Council (Control of Graffiti) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:645;Page:14893] 
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
: 
 I am a Manukau City ratepayer and as such I completely support the Manukau City Council in its attempts to try to deal with this absolute vandalism that goes on in Manukau and other areas of New Zealand. I think it is a real irony that today we have not only the National Party supporting this bill—which of course we have always had all the way through—but also the Labour Party I understand may now change its mind and support the bill. 
When George Hawkins brought this matter to the House and it was sent off to the Local Government and Environment Committee this is what Labour said about the bill. It said that it would not work. It stated: “We also believe Manukau City Council could develop and expand its urban design initiatives to minimise opportunities for graffiti.” So in other words it is Manukau City’s fault—blame the victim—that is what Labour said to the Manukau City Council. 
But my goodness what a difference a poll makes or in this case several polls. People in this country are absolutely sick of the PC nonsense that has been given out by former Attorney-General David Parker in his advice on this bill that says we cannot have that because young people should be able to buy spray-cans for some reason. Why? Is it a human need? No! In fact we now have a Government that is so concerned about the fact that so many other people are concerned about this issue it is saying that we will have this legislation right throughout the country. 
However I do despair of the fact that whatever bills we put through this House we will still have people who break the law. And that is the difference. There is a huge difference between making the law and keeping the law—enforcing the law. It is already illegal to vandalise it is already illegal to be a graffiti tagger it is already illegal. Yet what happens? Nothing happens other than the good ratepayers of Manukau City the good people who live there have to clean up the mess that these vandals leave behind. 
Nowadays it is not just a matter of spray-can painting; the main thing being done now is etching. But unfortunately that will not be covered by this bill. People etch with pieces of glass or pieces of steel. They etch into glass so that the storefronts of properties are absolutely covered in etching. I can see that my colleague from down south does not understand why that would happen. Well that is because etching cannot be removed as easily as spray-paint can. So I think we have to deal with some tremendous problems in relation to property rights and respect for other people’s property. 
Unfortunately we have had about 30 years of being told that property is not important and that it is owned only by capitalists. Actually the people of Manukau can say to this Government that it is not about that; this is about people’s homes their sense of security and their ability to be able to come home and have some peace in their own home and to be part of the community without having to live in fear. When I say “live in fear” I am not exaggerating. This is not just about spray-cans. This is actually about intrusion on to people’s property. It is intrusion by people who adopt a gangster-type persona and think they are part of some Los Angeles gang. Those sorts of people bring fear to the good people of Manukau. 
I congratulate George Hawkins on having the courage to put this bill forward. I think he is a person who cares about his constituents in Manurewa and I congratulate him on it. I also know that Ross Robertson feels the same and I feel the same. The people of Manukau have had a gutsful of graffiti taggers. We have had a gutsful of being told it is art. We have had a gutsful of cleaning up their mess and it is about time they took some responsibility. I think it would really good to give some of these people a nice stay in a good fresh start camp in a nice place like Waiouru where there are fewer opportunities for graffiti art. 
But I tell some of those members who do not come from places where this happens that now graffiti taggers even tag the trees. 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Tag the trees? 
JUDITH COLLINS 
: They do—they really do. They tag trees. We have an entire bush just covered in tags. They tag the footpaths and they tag the roads. 
What reaction did we have from the media when the first law was announced when the Government suddenly decided that it did care about graffiti and it did not worry about Mr Parker’s opinion? What did the media do? They went along and made these little vandals heroes. They gave them publicity. 
I despair of the fact that someone has been killed in Manurewa over this tagging. But I also say to people that this is the sort of thing that most people cannot stop and the people who are the most affected are the people without the resources to move away.