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Full video has emerged of three people��vandalising Auckland’s Karangahape Rd rainbow crossing��with white paint in what police are slamming as an apparent “hate crime”.��

The trio poured white paint over the crossing at about 3am yesterday - coming after a similar action by Destiny Church members in Gisborne, who were��disrupting a drag queen reading event at the local library.��

Police said earlier said that they had executed a search warrant in the east Auckland suburb Flat Bush in relation to the crime and also released images of a vehicle and suspect.��

Now a four-minute video has been posted to social media site TikTok showing three hooded and masked figures vandalising the crossing.��

The video is quickly going viral, already racking up more than 200,000 views.��

Using what appears to be mops or brooms, two people sweep and spread the white paint across the crossing.��

A third person films them.��

Cars driven by members of the public, meanwhile, can be seen using the road and crossing over the white paint.��

Confused pedestrians can also be seen to be walking past the camera and looking at the trio.��

Auckland City Central area commander Inspector Grant Tetzlaf yesterday said the Flat Bush home they searched was believed to be linked to the owners of a registered car the suspects used.��

Terzlaf said several items of interest were seized, but police are yet to locate the vehicle.��

“We are calling on those responsible for this incident to come forward and speak with us.”��

The rainbow crossing on Karangahape Rd is still visible after being covered with white paint overnight. Photo / Michael Craig��

Police said they were aware of the “hurt and confusion” from the community at what occurred and reassured they are committed to holding those involved to account.��

“Police have no tolerance for reports of this nature, which appear to directly target a particular sector of our diverse community, and we are treating this as a hate crime,” Tetzlaff said.��

Local leaders were “very disappointed” by the act with Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown calling it “disgraceful”.��

Destiny Church leader Brain Tamaki earlier said he “doesn’t know” if his members were involved.��

Police said the vandals went to great lengths to hide their identities, removing their registration plates and concealing their faces with balaclavas.��

In an earlier statement, Tetzlaff said the paint was poured on the crossing at 3.20am.��

Police are investigating a report of vandalism on the rainbow pedestrian crossing on Karangahape Rd. Photo / NZ Police��

CCTV footage is being assessed to determine the identity of the vandals and police have released photos of the car and offenders in hopes the public can help as well.��

“The vehicle is a distinctive, high gloss grey or white colour, with black roof racks and mag wheels,” Tetzlaff said.��

“We have no tolerance for reports of this nature and when it appears to directly target a particular sector of our diverse community.”��

Auckland’s rainbow crossing was��completed outside St Kevin’s Arcade in 2021, during the city’s Pride Festival. It celebrates diversity and inclusion for LGBTQI+ people.��

Auckland Transport infrastructure project manager Mark Banfield said he is “disappointed that people have willfully damaged” the crossing.��

Police have released images of the vandals to see if the public can help identify them. Photo / NZ Police��

“This appalling act of vandalism happened at about 3.20am and we have done our best to minimise the damage.��

“The crossing is an important part of the street that celebrates the rainbow community and we will be seeing what can be done to remediate it as soon as possible.”��

The rainbow crossing in happier days, completed during the 2021 Auckland Pride Festival. Photo / John Nottage��

A photo posted to social media site Reddit around 4am yesterday showed the crossing completely covered in white paint.��

Image posted to Reddit showing the white paint over Auckland's rainbow crossing on Karangahape Rd. Photo / Reddit��

Local leaders ‘very disappointed’, Destiny Church does not confirm involvement��

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says the painting is “disgraceful”.��

“I’ve got no time for intolerance of people’s differences.��

“Plus, this is just another form of graffiti on other people’s property that we will need to spend money fixing, which I hate.”��

Auckland Central MP and Greens co-leader��Chlöe Swarbrick��said on X/Twitter that she was in touch with the relevant authorities to have the rainbow crossing fixed “immediately”.��

“It’s sad and bizarre some people are spending their energy suppressing simple symbols of the visibility and pride of our - my - rainbow community. You can’t paint over our existence. Love always wins.”��

Swarbrick told the��Herald��she was in touch with Auckland Transport and the Karangahape Road Business Association to “get this fixed immediately”.��

Swarbrick said fundamentally the culprits must be “embarrassed on some level” if they are covering their faces like they are.��

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki doesn’t know if his members were involved.��

“I did not have anything to do with that, but it looks like a copycat job because it was painted all white and it was like the Gisborne one,” Tamaki said.��

Waitematā local board member and Karangahape resident Richard Northey is “very disappointed” by the paint.��

He said the crossing is indicative of the vibrant and tolerant community on the road and to see it covered sends the opposite message.��

Northey said he knows most of Auckland stands with the LGBTQI+ community.��

Auckland council member Richard Hills said he must stand up against hate.��

“Ignorance [and] hateful views do not give people an excuse to erase our identities,” he said.��

The vandalism comes after members of��Destiny Church��painted over the rainbow crossing on Gisborne’s main street on Monday. The group were protesting a Rainbow Storytime event at the local library, where drag queens read stories to children.��

By Wednesday the��Gisborne crossing had been repainted, with police expected to bill Destiny Church members for the work.��

That led several protesters to return to the site, with Tamaki expressing his displeasure at the rainbow’s restoration.��

Five protesters were arrested yesterday after attempts were made to paint slogans onto the repainted crossing.��