Graffiti war rages in Wairarapa

NUISANCE: South Wairarapa is trying to avoid this look seen in other towns by taking a pro-active approach. PHOTO/FILE

After a massive graffiti attack in Featherston and blowing the budget on graffiti removal, South Wairarapa is getting serious about the issue.

There have been more than 400 graffiti strikes in South Wairarapa in almost a year, according to the South Wairarapa District Council's latest infrastructure and services group report.

Featherston was hit the hardest, with 359 tags.

In October, there was a massive graffiti attack along the Featherston railway corridor, with too many strikes to count.

It was likely to have been gang-related, the report stated.

The mess was referred to Kiwi Rail for its contractor to clean up.

City Care is contracted to the council to remove graffiti with a budget of $17,260, based on an anticipated 192 strikes per year.

But the cost has jumped up to almost $20,000.

With the council's budget being exceeded, that was "the red flag", said Julie Riddell, South Wairarapa councillor and chair of the district's graffiti working party.

"We need to go in and deal with it before it becomes an issue, and get a solution before the problem escalates."

At a meeting on graffiti prevention in Greytown on Friday, Hine Sullivan, graffiti programme adviser to Wellington City Council, shared ideas on how to tackle the issue.

Ms Sullivan said graffiti cost the whole region an estimated $1.5 million and in Wellington it was around $500,000.

"That's a conservative amount," she said, as not all graffiti was reported.

Ms Sullivan said murals, paint guard and environmental design could help stop graffiti, but it was also up to communities to take ownership of their neighbourhoods.

A collaborative approach by everybody including police, schools, families, councils and communities was needed, she said.

Wellington City Council also used a database called Stop Tags to track tags, which had helped police convict taggers .

Helen McNaught, amenities manager for South Wairarapa District Council, said the database was something they had looked at but the district's population was too small.

Combining with Carterton and Masterton councils was a possibility, she said.

Trish Burgess, from the Featherston community patrol, said that since the patrol started it had recorded tags by taking photos and details.

She liked the idea of the Stop Tags database as a way of tracking vandals.

"I'm sure there would be tags in Featherston appearing in Carterton and Masterton."

Mrs Burgess also thought preventing graffiti with murals was a good idea.

"The Chorus cabinet art definitely improves the look of the town."

Mrs Riddell said youth education was important in preventing graffiti.

She said there was a lack of school holiday programmes in the area.

"In the school holidays we need to keep them entertained and occupied."

There were plans in the works starting in Featherston, said Mrs Riddell.

"We have got plans to get some funding for a school holiday programme that will appeal to all age groups."

Mrs Riddell said one idea was to get a cart derby competition going and get the Menz Shed involved in mentoring kids.