A 61-year-old man has admitted spray-painting anti-Indian graffiti – “Kill all Indians” – near a school in Auckland, telling police he was intoxicated and could not remember the incident.

As per RNZ, the man pleaded guilty in the Manukau District Court to two charges of intentional damage and one charge of offensive behaviour, after graffiti urging violence against Indian people was found near Papatoetoe Central School last month.

According to a summary of facts, the man was walking along St George Street in Papatoetoe around midnight on 10 April carrying a red spray can. He used it to mark the footpath before being confronted by a member of the public and fleeing the scene. The graffiti was later reported by the school near an entrance crossing.

Police executed a search warrant at his address, locating a spray-paint can at a neighbouring property where he said he had discarded it. He told officers he had been drinking heavily and did not recall the incident.

Inspector Dave Christoffersen told RNZ that at the time the incident was treated seriously but assessed as isolated, with no wider risk to the community.

The man faces a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a $2,000 fine for each damage charge, and up to a $1,000 fine for offensive behaviour.

As per RNZ, the man’s lawyer told the court he would seek permanent name suppression, citing concerns about public safety, potential “copycat behaviour”, and the risk of vigilante retaliation following online backlash. Interim suppression remains in place.

The man is due to be sentenced in September.

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