A man has been arrested following the alleged vandalism of a rainbow pedestrian crossing on Auckland's K Rd last month.
Police were treating the incident as a "hate crime" after white paint was spread across the design depicting the LGBTTQIA+ flag around 3.20am.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Allan said "extensive inquiries" had been ongoing since the incident on March 28.
"As a result of our inquiries, a 31-year-old Auckland man was arrested on Wednesday evening," Allan said.
"He has since been charged in relation to this incident and is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday 15 April, 2024."
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and could not comment further as the matter is now before the court.
Allan said several reports of information were "vital" in making the arrest, and investigators continue to appeal for information from the public to locate the three other people believed to be involved.
At the time, police released several images taken from CCTV footage in the area, asking for help identifying the people involved.
A "distinctive" vehicle with high gloss grey or white colour, black roof racks and mag wheels was also being sought by police and is yet to be found.
"At this stage, the vehicle of interest has also not yet been located and we are continuing to make inquiries," Allan said.
The prominent rainbow pride symbol on K Rd was the second such crossing to be vandalised, after Destiny Church protesters filmed themselves covering Gisborne's Gladstone Rd crossing with white paint.
It was part of a staged protest against a Rainbow Storytime event being held at the city's library, which saw five people arrested in connection to the Gisborne incident.
'Undercurrent of hate' towards rainbow communities - Auckland Pride
Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick said a "whirlwind" of imported misinformation and hate drove the "sad and bizarre" act.
"This anger and bigotry wasn't born on our shores, and it doesn't belong here."
The vandalism of the crossing on K Rd highlights an "undercurrent of hate" towards the rainbow communities in New Zealand, said Auckland Pride co-chairperson Quack Pirihi.
The organisation called for a community-led restorative justice approach which aims to bring everyone affected by an incident of wrongdoing together to decide how to deal with the incident and its implications.
"To protect our communities and build an equitable Aotearoa where Takatāpui and Rainbow communities are liberated, thriving, and connected, we need community solutions," said Pirihi.
Swarbrick, who is a member of the queer community, said she "strongly" agrees with a restorative justice approach.
"The only way to start to address the motivations behind these actions is to find out what drives a grown man to get so upset about a rainbow flag.
"I hope, ultimately, the alleged perpetrator and others who hold these views come to realise that the the rainbow community is in fact quite fabulous."
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