Gilmore Aaron: Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGilmore Aaron: Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 07 August 2013. Volume:692;Page:12485. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National):I rise to unequivocally support the Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Bill which is in the name of my colleague Mark Mitchell the member of Parliament for Rodney. I want to pay tribute to the work that Mark has put into shepherding this bill through the House. It has been interesting for me as a new member to see how he has applied his previous experience as a police officer to inform the very constructive contribution that he has made during the debates on this bill.I should also acknowledge Mike Sabin the member for Northland. It is so great to see members using their practical real-world experience in law enforcement in supporting our communities at the front line which is something that perhaps members on the other side might know a little bit less about. Those National members are using their practical experience to improve the law which deals with some of the most destructive unpleasant and violent entities in New Zealand.I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Hon Todd McClay who originally introduced this member’s bill to the House and whose stewardship of this legislation was interrupted only by his elevation to the executive.I am delighted to support this bill because it puts the rights of the majority of law-abiding respectful and good citizens of our beautiful country ahead of those of the tiny hard-core criminal minority who terrorise with both their offending and their reputation. It is the reputation in particular of these gangs that this bill seeks to neutralise. This bill strikes the right balance in my view between protecting the public in a practicable way while not going so far as to create unintended consequences or counter-productive situations. For instance gang patches—that is the signs symbols and representations used to commonly denote membership or affiliation with a criminal gang—will not be allowed on the premises or grounds of our Public Service departments courthouses police stations local authority offices and schools. But there is a specific exclusion for Housing New Zealand residential dwellings. The line has been drawn in my view in a very sensible place and we will not see families ejected from their State homes because of admittedly ill-advised associations with gangs.Similarly tattoos or non-removable insignia are not included as grounds for banning under this bill so those with permanent marks of gang affiliations—perhaps as a result of stupid decisions made in their youth—although they may be stigmatised by society are not going to be anathematised for life from setting foot on Government premises. One has to hope that they take the opportunity that this exception provides for to visit a public hospital—the very fine public hospitals we have in this country—and have their gang tattoos removed by laser treatment so that they can rejoin decent society.I want to focus on one particular element of the bill and that is the ban on gang insignia in schools and preschools. I support a ban on gang insignia in all governmental premises in general but I especially endorse the banning of gang insignia in schools and educational institutions. I single these places out because it is crucial that the rangatahi the young people who represent the future of our country are protected as much as possible from falling under the dark thrall of the gangs. In those areas where gangs are present it is crucial that we take a strong and determined approach to crack down on gang culture and all that it represents—the lawlessness the violence the disrespect of other people the ill-treatment of women and children the trade in narcotics and the people-trafficking not even to mention the more petty but still harmful activities that gangs perpetrate—and prevent these ills from being visited upon the next generation of young Kiwis.Unlike the other parties with the exception of those who are supporting this bill—and I acknowledge the member Richard Prosser for his passionate speech in favour of this legislation—I believe that if through this bill one single person is diverted one single child is taken away from a wasted life of crime in the malevolent criminal underbelly of this country then that would make this measure worthwhile. I actually believe that many many kids will benefit from this bill indirectly thanks to the clear message that it sends rejecting the culture of organised criminality. Schools around this country particularly in the most affected areas agree with this.As other members have done before me in this debate I would like to draw a small quote from the submission to the Law and Order Committee by the chairman of the board of trustees of Murupara Area School. Jacob Te Kurapa JP the chair said that “Murupara Area School is in support of this Bill for the following reasons: 1. Children and students do not need to see gang insignia plastered about our school they need to be protected from it.” He also said: “The introduction of gang insignia into our premises would create tensions and unnecessary negative behaviour and we want to discourage that type of behaviour from our school. We have our own form of ‘insignia’ and that is the wearing of our uniform something for our children to be proud of.” I am sure most members in this House would agree with those sentiments.I was quite surprised when Kris Faafoi made reference in his previous speech to hearing that submission. He expressed his concern and his sympathy but I think that the people of this country the children of Murupara Area School and all concerned citizens deserve more than concern. They deserve more than fine words. They deserve firm action. That is why I am proud to be part of a Government that is delivering it and proud that I have a colleague like Mark Mitchell who is actually giving the people of New Zealand the action that they deserve and that they need. So I have absolute pleasure in commending this bill to the House.