Woman Charged With Hate Crime After Staring At Rainbow Crossing For Over 10 Seconds

AUCKLAND — Lin Wei, a 34-year-old tourist from Shanghai, was arrested in Auckland at the start of the Pride Month after pausing to stare at the rainbow-painted pedestrian crossing on Auckland’s K. Road for over 10 seconds.

Unfamiliar with the symbol, Wei’s curiosity triggered NZ Police, who arrested and charged her with a hate crime under New Zealand’s strict Pride Month laws.

The rainbow crossing is protected by regulations deeming prolonged gazes as potential aggression towards the rainbow community. Senior Constable Graeme Smith stated, “It’s Pride Month, so any expression, even staring at the rainbow crossing, is a hate crime. 10 seconds is the legal threshold.”

Released on bail, Wei faces a court appearance at Auckland District Court. “I thought it was just pretty colors,” she said. “I didn’t know looking was a crime. I was just curious.” Her lawyer argues the law unfairly targets straight people.

At publishing time, the Police arrested a blind person for taking way too long to cross the rainbow pedestrian crossing.