Hutt graffiti bill gets thumbs up

Mayor of Lower Hutt Ray Wallace got the thumbs up from Parliament for his council’s graffiti removal bill which has passed through its third reading.

“This is a very important and decisive moment in our battle against the spread of graffiti across our city,” the Mayor says.

The new Hutt City Council (Graffiti Removal) Bill provides the right for council officers to enter private property after a due notification period to remove graffiti vandalism that is visible from a public place.

“Our council has taken a lead role in reducing graffiti vandalism through a system that quickly removes tags.

“Previously the graffiti on private buildings would stay exposed to the public for long periods because we could not get access – this Bill will enable us to enter private property and remove the offending graffiti.

“Our goal is to be free of graffiti and to ensure any tags that appear are removed promptly.

“Council has been successful in keeping tag hot spots clear and discouraging further offending. The Bill will be an important tool for us,” he says.

Mayor Wallace praised the efforts of the Member of Parliament for Hutt South, Hon Trevor Mallard, who sponsored the Bill and nurtured it through various stages in the House.

“The Hon Trevor Mallard worked with the council throughout and I congratulate him for his work on the Bill and support for our community – he has done an excellent job for Lower Hutt.

The Bill was examined by Parliament’s Local Government Select Committee and reported back to Parliament with extensive feedback from interested groups.

“We were very comfortable with the main changes to come out of the select committee which involved the question of liability for people who carry out work for councils and clarified the definition of graffiti,” the Mayor says.