I was also glad to meet Trevor Mallard today for another reason. He congratulated me on the stand we’ve taken on smashed signage, and said he was similarly hunting vandals, and that his team had caught one this week. The vandal was taken to the Police after the large team member who caught him was persuaded not to administer his own punishment.

I wish Grant Robertson had consulted Trevor before his condescending rejection of  my invitation to set an example by working cooperatively against vandalism. Graffiti, vandalism and street crime generally are major concerns for many Wellingtonians. We have an opportunity to show that we mean more than fine words and empty promises. I offered a chance to show that practical community cooperation could work, and Grant trivialises it.

I’m glad to report that all three of the students previously shown in photos posted on this blog have now got in touch, and their offer to help us has been accepted.

I believe in restorative justice, when the apology is genuine. In this case I told each boy that I was happy to remove their photographs simply because they’d fronted up and apologised. They maintained their offer of help, which is gratefully accepted.