Tougher graffiti laws for rest of NZ?

A tagged fence between Karamu Cres and Totara St in the Hutt Valley. Photo / NZ Herald

There are hopes legislation allowing a local council to clean up graffiti on private properties might be extended to the rest of the country if it is successful.

The Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill, which passed its first reading in Parliament last night, would allow the council's staff to enter private property to remove graffiti marks after serving a notice on the owner at least 10 days prior and subject to agreement from the owner.

Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard, who is sponsoring the bill, said that while current law provided legal grounds to deter graffiti offenders, it did not give the council the power to clean graffiti marks that were on private property.

"Graffiti is a major problem in the Hutt and a recent graffiti vandalism audit has shown that it is on a par with other audited urban areas in New Zealand, like the Auckland railway corridors and the Wellington CBD,'' Mr Mallard said.

"Giving the Hutt City Council the power to remove graffiti from private property will make a huge difference to ongoing maintenance issues associated with graffiti around the wider Hutt area.''

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Mallard said he hoped the bill might be extended to other areas.

"It is a contribution, and one which I hope, if it works, is something that the Government might think about picking up to work more widely,'' he said.

The bill passed its first reading with unanimous support and was referred to the local government and environment committee for consideration.