11:58 am today

Wellington crossing painted in transgender flag restored to original

11:58 am today
Wellington's transgender flag painted over

Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker

A transgender flag that was painted on a crossing in a Wellington suburb has been painted over.

It follows a group of four people painting the transgender flag on a crossing in Berhampore on Sunday night.

The Wellington City Council said it would be removed because it could be a safety risk, especially in wet weather.

Rongotai Green MP Julie Anne Genter hoped to find a way to keep the artwork in place for Pride month.

Crossing painter Deb Potter

Deb Potter. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Long time Berhampore resident Deb Potter said she and three others elaborately planned the action last Sunday night - setting up traffic cones and donning hi-vis vests as they worked on the road.

She said the group were inspired by a current case in the High Court where a consortium - with links to Christian fundamentalist political party Vision NZ - were seeking a judicial review of the legality of the council's rainbow coloured crossing in the central city.

Berhampore crossing painted with trans colours

The repainted crossing in Berhampore. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Potter said the group read up on the safety objections raised by the legal action to make sure their crossing - dubbed Berhampride - would not be considered unsafe

Wellington City Council has been approached for comment on whether it was council staff who covered it.

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