Auckland Pride says reparations will pay for paint but 'don't make rainbow communities safer' after Karangahape Rd vandalism

Watch: The vandalism was slammed by Aucklanders. Credits: Newshub

Auckland Pride's co-chair says reparation costs will help pay for paint but "don't make rainbow communities safer" after a man pleaded guilty to vandalising the crossing on Karangahape Rd.   

Ford O'Connor, 31, pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court on Monday to charges of intentionally damaging the iconic rainbow crossing on March 28.   

O'Connor agreed to pay reparations of $16,093 within 28 days and was discharged without conviction.     

Speaking outside court on Monday morning, Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki expressed "unwavering support" for O'Connor, who is married to his granddaughter.    

Auckland Pride co-chair Bhenjamin Goodsir said while the money will help repaint the crossing, we also need to "address the underlying homophobia and transphobia".    

"Auckland Pride wants our Rainbow Communities to be safe and to feel safe. Today's decision shows the usual Court processes can't address the rising hate - we need a Restorative Justice approach that can build empathy and understanding," Goodsir said.   

"All this process has done is give Brian Tamaki a platform to spread his hate and misinformation further. Rainbow Communities need everyone's support in rejecting hate and building community solutions to these issues."   

Auckland Pride has been calling for a restorative justice approach since O'Connor was arrested last Friday.    

They have the support of Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick who said she saw no benefit in prosecuting the vandal.   

Instead, Swarbrick said it's better "to extend the olive branch and try to grow a sense of understanding" of where their views come from.   

"Because the question that I would love to ask is... what is it that they are so afraid of?"   

She said the goal is to grow understanding and community connections so things like road painting vandalism don't happen.   

"If people who hold these views feel as though they're under attack... the dialogue only becomes more polarised and nobody benefits from that," she said.   

"And ultimately, the hope is I guess that this person, these alleged perpetrators realise that the rainbow community is in fact fabulous and nothing to be afraid of."   

Earlier in the month Tamaki said he didn't know who was responsible for the vandalism. On Monday the Destiny Church leader showed up at court with a group of people to support O'Connor.    

The vandalism was met with criticism from across the board with Auckland mayor Wayne Brown calling it "disgraceful".     

"I've got no time for intolerance of people's differences," he said.    

"Plus, this is just another form of graffiti on other people's property that we will need to spend money fixing - which I hate."