More councils line up for gang bylaw

Local government leaders are seeking a law change to allow other councils to follow Whanganui's lead and ban gang patches.

Whanganui was given the right to pass a bylaw last year banning all gang insignia except tattoos from public places, but other councils wanting to do the same must get their own enabling law through Parliament.

Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule said the organisation was trying to get a blanket law change that would allow any council to pass similar bylaws.

"We're trying to get the Local Government Act amended so that councils can introduce a bylaw if they wish to do this without, like in Whanganui's case, having to get a special act of Parliament."

At least two other councils have given serious consideration to banning patches. Timaru District Council has found its moves frustrated after being told it cannot piggyback on the Whanganui law.

"There was a belief that it would be a simple matter for Timaru to tag on to the Whanganui legislation. We are advised that this is not so and the legislative process would be required to be repeated for Timaru," regulatory services manager Peter Thompson said.

Palmerston North has also floated a ban on patches if the Whanganui law sees an exodus of gang members to the city, though mayor Jono Naylor said there was no problem at present.

"It's something that we would entertain if it did become a problem, so the idea of being able to have the Local Government Act changed to enable us to do that should it become a problem would be really advantageous."

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said he was not aware of the Local Government NZ approach, but indicated that extending Whanganui's powers to other areas had merits.

"It seems to me odd that you'd just do it for Whanganui. The good thing is the Government and Parliament are going to get the experience of Whanganui, and then can make a decision about the rest of the country."

Mr Hide's vote and that of two other ACT MPs – David Garrett and John Boscawen – was crucial in getting the Whanganui bill through.

On Thursday, the council won a test case after a Whanganui District Court judge ordered Hastings Hells Angels member Bryan Vincent Moore to hand in his patch for destruction after he wore it illegally in public.

- © Fairfax NZ News