Reformed tagger plugs anti-graffiti message

Whangarei graffiti artists Rodrigo Rozas and Rob Allen, right, believe there are several ways to tackle Whangarei's tagging problem. Photo / John Stone

A reformed tagger turned graffiti artist believes he has solutions to help combat Whangarei's tagging epidemic.

Whangarei-based professional graffiti artist Rob Allen says educational workshops, dedicated graffiti walls and community murals could help reduce tagging levels in the district.

Latest figures released by the Whangarei District Council (WDC) show council workers removed 20,298 tags from around the district in the six months to July. Much of the tagging is being attributed to the same group of youths by the council's Stop Tags database.

Mr Allen, with fellow Whangarei artist Rodrigo Rozas, has run a number of street art workshops in Whangarei and the Far North, educating youth about the harmful effects of tagging and encouraging them to express their creativity through graffiti art on canvas.

"If you can get them young - you can help break the cycle. You're never going to stop tagging [but you can reduce it]," Mr Allen told the Northern Advocate.

And the youth seem to be taking note, with several coming up to the artists after the workshop stating they won't tag again. "It is about planting that seed." Mr Allen, who is now 27, last tagged when he was 12 or 13 years-old - several years before he moved from Auckland to Whangarei.

He now owns graffiti art company Chalkline Ltd, and has completed a number of commissioned murals around Whangarei, including the artwork on Hell Pizza on Bank St, and behind the Yamaha store in Okara Park. He believes other ways to help tackle Whangarei's tagging problem include having dedicated graffiti walls and community murals. Cities such as Wellington and Christchurch have large areas set aside for graffiti art, and taggers generally respect the art and won't tag over large pieces, he said.

"Get the most active taggers involved in the wall. And pick targeted walls - walls that are constantly tagged."