An Auckland man has drawn the ire of other motorists because of his offensive personalised number plate. Photo / 123rf
An Auckland man has drawn the ire of other motorists because of his offensive personalised number plate. Photo / 123rf
An Auckland man has been told to hand in his personalised number plates after they were deemed offensive and he had run-ins with other motorists calling him a racist.
The plates were based on an internet meme used to mock the Islamic religion.
The Herald has chosen not to namethe man, show his plates or publish some of his comments.
He defended his actions, saying he was not a racist but was making a free speech protest against all forms of organised religion.
The NZ Transport Agency originally wrote to the man, saying it had received a complaint about the plates and would assess this at a panel meeting in August.
The panel then deemed the plates offensive, leading the NZTA to revoke them and order the man to hand them in.
"It is the Transport Agency's responsibility to ensure the number and letter sequences appearing on vehicle registration plates are not seen to be offensive, derogatory, obscene or promote any form of bias, discrimination or violence," it said.
However, the man could exchange the plates for a new personalised set free of charge, the agency said.
