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Home / New Zealand

Disgust over more damage

By Karen Coltman
Wairarapa Times-Age·
7 May, 2013 02:58 AM3 mins to read

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MIDWEEK

An Anzac Day vandalism spree in Featherston that left a toilet basin smashed off the wall - and tagging and alcohol cans in the park - has highlighted the town's ongoing problem with vandalism and graffiti.

Mike Topp, manager of the RSA Messines Bar and Restaurant, phoned police on the night of April 25 when somebody approached him concerned about a loud group of people damaging property.

Mr Topp said a Featherston man ran to stop the group as they were "taking to" the model railway shed door, which was smashed.

Though police arrived quickly, Mr Topp said the damage was done and the culprits had "scarpered".

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South Wairarapa District Council officer Helen McNaught said damage from Anzac Day had cost $500 with the day's toll including a handbasin wrenched from the wall in the 24-hour toilet, and graffiti both inked and scratched on to the mirror.

Graffiti was inked and engraved on the wooden table and seat surfaces in the children's playground, in the gazebo and skate park.

Ms McNaught said more than four dozen empty Cody's Bourbon and Cola cans were removed from the area the next day, despite the whole of the playground, skatepark and main business area of Featherston being an alcohol prohibited area under the Featherston liquor control bylaw.

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The council keeps records of graffiti incidents in each South Wairarapa town and there had been 102 in Featherston in January alone, with 141 between October and February.

This compared with 24 graffiti strikes in Martinborough, and nine in Featherston, over the same five-month period.

Ms McNaught said incidents of graffiti and vandalism in Featherston had cost the council $2000 since November.

South Wairarapa District Council is preparing a report to the Featherston Community Board with proposals on ways to reduce graffiti and vandalism. "We are consulting with other councils to get the benefit of their experiences and successes," Ms McNaught said.

Mr Topp said the Featherston community is "gutted and disgusted".

"This is happening a lot, a group set the toilets on fire a month ago and now they have completely destroyed a basin," Mr Topp says.

"This bunch have done a lot of damage in short space of time - they were all over the place. A teenage girl was seen trying to bash in the bus stop.

"It was early in the night and the bar was full because of Anzac Day, but it shows they don't care who sees them and they think there will be no serious consequences.

Continued on Page 3.

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