Auckland man convicted over red paint attacks on MPs’ electorate offices

Red paint or fake blood splashed on National leader Christopher Luxon's Botany electorate office by Tāmaki for Palestine protesters.

A man who vandalised multiple MP offices with red paint to protest New Zealand not taking a firmer stance against the war in Palestine has been convicted.

The repeated vandalism included throwing bright red paint “bombs” at electorate offices belonging to National Party officials, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

In the Auckland District Court today, Kieran James Lynch, who was 25 at the time of the attacks, was convicted of nine charges of wilful damage after he pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Lynch wept as he was also ordered to pay reparations amounting to more than $1500.

Red paint or fake blood splashed on North Shore electorate office of National MP Simon Watts by Tāmaki for Palestine protesters.

Starting in 2023, Lynch helped his co-defendants, practising barrister Hannah Lucy Swedlund and flatmate Kieran Martin McLean orchestrate the attack.

Swedlund was convicted earlier this year.

Lynch’s lawyer, Ron Mansfield, KC, told the court his actions were a reflection of his deep belief in justice and frustration with the Government.

He described Lynch as a “credit to our community”.

Judge Belinda Sellars, KC, said Lynch’s “passion drove the offending”.

The trio involved in the blood-like attacks were part of the activist group Tāmaki for Palestine.

Fake blood or red paint splashed on Epsom office of National MPs Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee on November 23 by Tāmaki for Palestine protesters.

Vandalism spree

The two-month vandalism spree began in November 2023 with the targeting of the United States Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade offices in Auckland Central.

“Ceasefire now” and “Save Gaza Free Palestine” had also been stencilled on the buildings, along with the red paint that had been squirted from 2 litre bottles concealed under an overcoat.

The following morning, a group calling itself Tāmaki for Palestine issued a press release taking responsibility, explaining that the paint was intended to “make the blood on US and New Zealand officials’ hands visible”.

At the time, it had been just one month and one week since the Hamas-backed raid on southern Israel in which 1219 people – the vast majority civilians – were killed and hundreds held hostage. Israel immediately responded with its ongoing military campaign in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Red paint splashed on Northcote electorate office of National MP Dan Bidois.

Tāmaki for Palestine struck again just over a week after the first incident, this time focusing on the Auckland offices of National’s Luxon, Judith Collins, Simon Watts, Paul Goldsmith and Daniel Bidois, as well as a sign belonging to Act leader David Seymour.

The final act of vandalism occurred two months later in January 2024, when Collins’ Papakura office was hit again.

The group showed off its illegal handiwork on Instagram.

Sellars told the court a search warrant was executed at the Onehunga home of the three defendants on February 15 last year, and police found a trove of incriminating information, including data from Swedlund’s phone.

All three were found to have participated in a Tāmaki for Palestine chat group on the encrypted messaging app Signal.

The trio’s messages included detailed planning for “hitting National offices”, including how to conceal “incriminating evidence” and how each participant should disguise themselves with “anonymity materials”.

Sellars said police also found red paint at the home, including on Lynch’s shoes, and homemade signs saying things such as “f*** National”, “expel the Israeli ambassador” and “no genocide on Palestine”.

Red paint or fake blood splashed on David Seymour's Epsom electorate office by Tāmaki for Palestine protesters.

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