A Restore Passenger Rail protester has vandalised Auckland car yards this morning in a protest against inequality and climate change.
Restore Passenger Rail announced this morning that a supporter had spray-painted the windows of two Auckland luxury car yards at 100 and 119 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland.
Restore Passenger Rail spokesperson Joseph J Fullerton said luxury cars were symbols of greed and climate change.
“Those buying these obscenely expensive cars, up to $600,000 a shot, are getting richer while their excesses fuel more floods, cyclones and droughts.
“Their luxuries are our floods. Their greed is killing us and this new Government is encouraging it.
“Meanwhile food banks are getting busier than ever in the lead-up to Christmas. Climate breakdown and inequality are connected,” Fullerton said.
Giltrap Group CEO Dane Fisher said he was disappointed to see the vandalism of the group’s car yards in Auckland.
“We understand the concerns about climate change and acknowledge that many in Auckland and around the country are doing it tough.”
Fisher said the business is addressing climate change by growing its range of CO2-neutral vehicles.
“We have also donated significantly to organisations like the City Mission, Starship Hospital, and the Salvation Army to support the community during these challenging times.
“While we respect the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, we believe that discussions about climate change and inequality can be more productive through dialogue and cooperation rather than acts of vandalism.”
The Restore Passenger Rail campaign is calling for the restoration of an affordable nationwide passenger rail network and free urban public transport in New Zealand.
Climate breakdown and inequality are “two evil twins,” and luxury cars are a symbol of greed, Fuller said.
It appears only the windows of the car yards were hit with spray paint and not the luxury cars.
The Restore Passenger Rail campaign made headlines in October last year when supporters repeatedly blocked traffic in Wellington and Auckland over 2022 and 2023.
In a similar stunt in September, three protesters were arrested after the shop window of a car dealer in Wellington was vandalised.
Peter Wham was charged with wilful damage after a Wellington luxury car dealer was sprayed with washable poster paint on September 14.
“We are calling on all New Zealanders who care about the climate crisis to join Restore Passenger Rail,“ Fullerton said.
“Together we have the power to build a better, fairer New Zealand.”