Rainbow crossing repair payout sees man avoid conviction

• Published date: 16 April 2024
• Author: Benjamin Plummer
• Publication title: Whanganui Chronicle

Ford O’Connor, 31, appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday on charges of intentionally damaging the crossing on March 28

He has agreed to pay $16,093 — the cost of repairing the crossing.

His lawyer, Steven Lack, said he would pay the amount in full within a month and O’Connor received a discharge without conviction.

Community Magistrate Jan Holmes said she had taken into account O’Connor’s early guilty plea, his significant reparation costs and his clean record.

Lack had argued that a conviction would have a significant effect on the father of four, who was in fulltime work.

Before O’Connor’s court appearance, Tamaki held a press conference in front of about 40 people to voice his “unwavering support” for him.

Tamaki said: “Today I stand alongside a young man, who is accused of wilful damage to the K Rd rainbow crossing ... Mr O’Connor handed himself into the police last week and he was not arrested.”

“As I stated before, Mr O’Connor undertook a political protest against the excessive rainbow-washing that is occurring across New Zealand right now, at the expense of our taxpayers and our ratepayers.

“This rainbow-washing has gone too far. The over-promotion and protection of this perversion is not right.”

Earlier Tamaki said: “The young man has appointed me as his media spokesperson, due to the importance of this case.”

“It is ridiculous that the police have threatened to treat this as a hate crime when they have shown no interest in treating the Te Papa Treaty defacing as a hate crime. There seems to be massive inconsistencies with how one protest is treated, compared to another. One law for some and another law for...