ANZ Bank 'sad' over Ponsonby GayTM attack by vandals

A clean-up has begun after a GAYTM on Ponsonby road was vandalised. Photo / Brian Holland

A vibrant 'GAYTM' on Ponsonby Road has been struck by vandals overnight, covering the ANZ machine in white paint the day before the Auckland Pride Parade.

The GAYTMs, which were first by introduced by ANZ Australia last year to celebrate the famous Sydney Mardi Gras, were commissioned in New Zealand as part of the bank's diversity programme, said ANZ chief financial officer and Pride Network executive sponsor Antonia Watson.

ANZ staff Marcella Goulding, branch manager, and LaQuisha Redfern, IT programmer with one of the GAYTMs. Photo / ANZ

Earlier this month four machines around Auckland and Wellington were dressed up in rhinestones, bright paint and rainbow lights were strewn on the Queen Street branch.

As well their flamboyant designs, the GAYTMs also printed 'Freedom Flower' receipts and displayed support messages for the Pride and Out in the Park festivals in Auckland and Wellington this month.

The bank would donate proceeds from the use of non-ANZ customer cards from the GAYTMs to OUTline, a not-for-profit counselling service that supported people dealing with gender and sexuality issues.

However, one the most popular machines in Ponsonby, featuring a design by acclaimed artist Reuben Paterson, has been tarnished overnight.

The artist, made aware of the attack by the NZ Herald Online said it was very disappointing.

"It's incredibly disappointing because there has just been an amazing amount of support for the Freedom Flowers GAYTM," he said.

"This clean up, like the adversity we all face, is only going to make us stronger."

The bank has Tweeted its disappointment at the defacing and says a cleanup has begun.

"We'll get it back up and glittering again in no time," ANZ said online.

@Naly_D @brianholland We're pretty sad about this right now. :( #GAYTMNZ ^CR

— ANZ New Zealand (@ANZ_NZ) February 19, 2015

Our Ponsonby GAYTM was vandalised this morning. Sadly some people still ignorant & intolerant @ANZ_NZ #GAYTMNZ #PRIDE pic.twitter.com/hBDf8xZMcI

— ANZ NZ Media (@ANZ_NZ_Media) February 19, 2015

Many tweeted photos showing cleanup efforts underway this morning.

The @ANZ_NZ #GAYTM destroyed. Clean up in progress. Yes folks #homophobia is still a thing. pic.twitter.com/pqgw5kPPlR

— Brian Holland (@brianholland) February 19, 2015

Comment: GAYTM attack 'like a punch the face'

My heart sinks seeking the GayTM like this. Not just because it's the day before the Auckland Pride Parade, but because it wakes me up and makes me realise there is still hatred out there for LGBTs.

Read on...

- Herald Online