A bill that would ban the wearing of gang patches on all Government and council-owned property in New Zealand has passed its first reading in Parliament.
The members' bill in the name of National Party MP Todd McClay passed by 69 votes to 52 on Wednesday, with the support of National, ACT, United Future and New Zealand First.
Labour Party MP Andrew Little says the bill is totally hopeless and will do nothing to deal with the problem of gangs and associated criminal activity.
Mr Little says similar legislation that sought to rid Whanganui of gang patches did not work.
