Candidates Push Ahead with Election Sign 'Pull –Out, Clean Up'

Two Tauranga election candidates have followed through with their vow to remove their own election signs well ahead of the close of voting - to give 'sign-fatigued' locals a break from the wide-scale visual and environmental pollution.

Regional council candidate Grant Dyson and Tauranga Mayoral contender Murray visited five of the most 'sign splattered' sites in Tauranga earlier this week - pulled out their own signs and generally cleaned up.

The pair say that anyone who has branded their action as an election stunt, should view the pile of debris they retrieved- photographed by Tauranga's Weekend Sun. 'We filled Murray's station wagon boot and my light, high-sided trailer with signs-related rubbish, ' says Grant Dyson.

'As an environmental gesture, we repaired signs (anyone's) with a staple gun where possible, collected broken wood, bits of plastic signs, and general rubbish such as beer bottles. '

Murray Guy repaired at least one community sign - saying that it's a sad side-effect that the vandalism of election signs has extended to community-type signs.

They pair say it's a shame that sitting Environment Bay of Plenty councillors - who have more signs round town than anyone else - appear to be 'armchair environmentalists.' They didn't even decline an invitation to take part, they were silent - perhaps embarrassed.

On the other hand, we are grateful for messages of support from people including Tauranga's Deputy Mayor David Stewart, and a number of councillors and candidates.

ENDS

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