KEY POINTS:
Wanted. Graffitti artists to paint murals on buildings rather than defacing them with their spray cans.
In a bid to clean up graffitied buildings, Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) will supply paint and recruit and pay graffitists to cover up their mess with art.
OnTrack, the government organisation in charge of the railway infastructure, supports the move.
Communications manager Kevin Ramshaw said today many OnTrack buildings are targeted by the spray-can brigade.
"We like the idea of a bright mural instead of some offensive scribble," he said.
"Besides, if a talented kid with a spray can gets a chance to lift him or herself up and achieve something that others look at as art rather than vandalism that's a good result all around."
KNZB chief executive Barry Lucinsky said graffiti spoilt New Zealand's scenery.
"It's certainly possible to tighten laws and penalties against graffiti attacks, but it's such a simple crime to commit that a better approach is needed."
He said some graffitti artists were talented.
"Why they waste their time spraying symbols illegible to the rest of us is beyond me."
- NZPA
