Political vandals flourish in West

By Bernard Orsman

West Auckland candidates are counting the cost of political vandalism unmatched elsewhere in the country, and one has complained to the police about a series of threatening messages.

Brian Neeson, who is standing for National in the new seat of Waitakere, said yesterday that the abusive messages had unnerved his wife, Vanessa, who is contesting Te Atatu.

Mr Neeson's electorate secretary, Anne Adams, also said the threats were disconcerting. She arrived at work in Henderson yesterday to find an abusive note taped to a ranchslider door.

A similar message was put on a card and slipped under the office door several weeks ago. The handwriting matched that of obscenities on Mrs Neeson's billboards.

Mr Neeson said he believed the messages were the work of a politically motivated person who might now be stalking the couple.

His office yesterday laid a complaint with the Henderson police, who are expected to respond today.

The major political parties say that damage to billboards is about normal at this election, but West Auckland is the notable exception.

Mrs Neeson said 11 of her 50 billboards, worth about $100 each, had had obscenities written on them or had been stolen. Fifteen of her husband's had been damaged or stolen.

The Labour candidate in Te Atatu, Chris Carter, said 19 of his 31 personalised billboards had been damaged. He also believed the attacks were politically motivated.

New Zealand First's Te Atatu candidate, Jenine Clift, said damage to her billboards was virtually confined to an attack on Saturday night to a large hoarding featuring party leader Winston Peters.