Submission on the Antisocial Road Use Legislation Bill

Mana Mokopuna opposes the Bill’s proposed amendments relating to new antisocial road use offences and fines as we are of the view they will have a disproportionate impact on mokopuna, particularly mokopuna Māori, and do not align with the Children’s Convention or Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Should the proposed changes proceed, Mana Mokopuna advocates for the Bill to be amended to significantly reduce the proposed infringement fees, retain the current law’s staggered approach to penalising antisocial road use offenders, including its provision that vehicle destruction is only possible on a third offence basis, and remove the proposed offence relating to frightening and intimidating convoys considering the disproportionate impact it is likely to have on Māori, including mokopuna Māori.

Before proceeding with the Bill any further, the Government should consult with mokopuna and young people on the proposed changes, and make further amendments to the Bill to give effect to their views.