David Seymour is not keen on a swastika ban, despite the gangs’ crackdown

ACT leader David Seymour says he does not support banning swastikas in public because he likes to “know who the idiots are in society”, despite the Coalition recently banning the display of gang patches.

The comments come amidst a large mongrel crowd of tangi in Lower Hutt and still weeks before the coalition’s ban on gang badges comes into effect.

Speaking in Auckland on Tuesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked whether the government would, like Australia, also ban the Nazi salute and symbols, both of which are sometimes used by the mafia.

Luxon gave no indication that such a move is being actively considered by the coalition, but did say: “We are ready for those conversations.”

On Wednesday, Seymour told RNZ he was not in favor of a swastika ban.

“I hate those symbols and greetings, but I do like knowing who the idiots in society are, and if they’re willing to identify that way, I think it’s actually helpful for everyone.”

When asked by RNZ why he took a different position when it came to gang patches, Seymour said the decision was motivated by the intimidating nature of such symbols.

“There’s a difference,” he said. “People are genuinely intimidated by seeing certain gang patches and symbols.”

Seymour was asked whether he thought people – including the Jewish community in his own Epsom electorate – would be similarly intimidated by the sight of a swastika.

He said he thought they would probably be more grateful if they were informed of that person’s views: “When I see someone like that in New Zealand I think what an idiot,” Seymour said.

‘What do you achieve? I mean, you’re talking about a small minority of incredibly stupid people. If they are willing to identify themselves, let’s let them.”

Seymour also cited the Bill of Rights as a potential obstacle, despite it being one of the same objections to the ban on gang patches.

“You can always ignore the Bill of Rights. There’s actually a clause in there that says you can do that. But that doesn’t mean they don’t make you think.”

Hasn’t he thought about banning gang patches? “Every initiative that goes through the cabinet gives me food for thought, because I am a thoughtful man.”

Contacted for comment, Justice Secretary Paul Goldsmith reiterated the Prime Minister’s position that the coalition was “open to having those conversations”.

“However, no decisions have been made yet. Our first priority is to implement the Government’s substantial law and order programme, which includes giving police extra powers to tackle gangs and strengthening criminal laws,” Goldsmith said in a statement.

Goldsmith was asked last month to explain why the government had focused its attention on gang patches and not symbols of hate, such as swastikas or terrorist insignia.

In response, he said: “We are not having a debate on that wider issue at the moment, we are focusing on gang membership… if you want to have a wider discussion about freedom of speech we can do that another time. .”

Australia passed legislation late last year banning Nazi salutes and the display of terrorist symbols after a rise in anti-Semitic incidents. The ban came into effect in January.