Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013

Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013
New Zealand Parliament
Royal assent12 August 2013[1]
Commenced28 June 2012[1]
Legislative history
Passed2013
Status: Current legislation

The Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013 is legislation passed by the New Zealand Parliament on 7 August 2013, which went into effect when given royal assent on the 12 August 2013.[1] The act prevents "gang insignia" defined in the act as[2] —

a) a sign, symbol, or representation commonly displayed to denote member of, an affiliation with, or support for a gang, not being a tattoo; and b) includes any item of clothing to which a sign, symbol, or representation referred to in paragraph (a) is attached.

from being worn on any government premises, which are properties, whole or parts of structures owned or under control by the Crown, the Police, a Crown entity or a local authority. It also includes the buildings and grounds of any school, public hospital or health facility owned or under the control of a district health board, and lastly any swimming pool or aquatic centre owned by or under the control of a local authority.[2][3]

Response

When the bill was proposed by National Party member Todd McClay, Leader of Mana Movement Hone Harawira stated that it was a "deeply racist" due to the majority of gang population being those of Māori descent. He also labelled the bill as "woefully underprepared".[4][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "SCHEDULE OF BILLS - Fiftieth Parliament". Parliament New Zealand. 4 September 2019. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013 No 56 (as at 07 August 2020), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ "Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act 2013 No 56 (as at 07 August 2020), Public Act Part 2 Offences and enforcement – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Harawira: Proposed gang patches ban 'racist'". NZ Herald. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Hone fires up at MP's 'racist' bill". Stuff. 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.