Gang patches are not considered a problem in Tauranga and city councillors are not concerned about the law passed on Wednesday night banning gang patches from council and government buildings, says Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby.

Sponsored by MP Mark Mitchell, The Prohibition of Gang Insignia Government Premises Bill, which passed into law, is set to give police the power to arrest anyone who wears a gang patch on local government property including hospitals, schools and swimming pools – but not Housing New Zealand Corporation properties.

Mayor Stuart Crosby says gang patches are not a problem.

'What I can tell is when the bill came to council to consider, the elected members' view at the time is it's actually not a problem in Tauranga – which it isn't,” says Stuart.

'We looked at the bill and said: ‘it's all very interesting, but it's not an issue in Tauranga'. The act itself, we will analyse it and see.”

Stuart doesn't know if the Act makes the patch ban compulsory or if it is optional for councils to enforce. He's also not sure about public-controlled open spaces, like sports grounds.

'We need to do some homework on the actual Act and see how that will impact on Tauranga. Our position is pretty neutral,” he says.

'We have a number of gangs here in Tauranga but they keep a low profile but don't, in my view, create a public nuisance on an on-going basis.

'From time to time they go on a ride or might be seen about the city with the odd patch, but they certainly do not create a nuisance of themselves with it.”

Tauranga-based motorcycle club the Filthy Few is included in the named list of gangs in the Act, which will in future be banned from wearing their colours in government and council buildings.

Under the new law, patches will be banned at government premises and any associated grounds; the buildings and grounds of any school; and any public hospital or health facility that is owned by, or is under the control of, a District Health Board; and any public swimming pool or aquatic centre that is owned by, or is under the control of, a local authority.

It excludes any residential dwelling owned by, or is under the control of, Housing New Zealand Corporation or a local authority. The ban also applies to early childhood education centres.

The named list of gangs in the Act include:

Aotearoa Natives, Bandidos MC, Black Power, Devils Henchmen MC, Epitaph Riders, Filthy Few MC, Forty-Five MC, Greasy Dogs MC, Head Hunters MC, Hells Angels, Highway 61 MC, Hu-Hu MC, Killerbeez, King Cobras, Lone Legion MC, Lost Breed MC, Magogs MC, Mongrel Mob, Mangu Kaha, Mothers MC, Nomads, Outcasts MC, Outlaws MC, Rebels MC, Red Devils MC, Road Nights MC, Satans Slaves MC, Sinn Fein MC (not being a branch, or an associated organisation, of the political party known by a similar name), Southern Vikings MC, Storm Troopers, Taupiri MC, Tribal Huk, Tribesmen MC, Tyrants MC.