Spreading the good words

Kevin Lee (left), Joon Yi and Erica Lee want to inspire young people. Photo / Dean Purcell

A group of young Koreans has paid for billboards to warn others of the perils of a life of crime.

The group, 26 people in their 20s, contributed $50 each for the first billboard, in Lincoln Rd, Henderson, which asks parents to "Teach your child to succeed".

Others, to be displayed in West and South Auckland, will carry words aimed at youth, such as: "What kind of life do you want - you decide" and "you are New Zealand's future".

"We hope the messages will make would-be criminals think about how an act of crime can destroy their future, but we also want to reach parents because the home is the best place to be taught the essentials," said project leader Joon Yi.

The group wanted to "tackle the crime problem at the roots", and got its idea from church billboards.