News Release

31 July 2012

Graffiti-Free City Takes Step Forward

A city free of graffiti vandalism is a step closer following the launch of Auckland Council’s region-wide plan for prevention, eradication, enforcement and education today.

The launch of the Auckland Graffiti Vandalism Prevention Plan (AGVPP) in Otara today signals a new phase in Mayor Len Brown’s fight against graffiti vandalism by delivering tougher standards across the region such as rapid 24-hour removal targets and just two hours for offensive tags.

“I want Aucklanders to take pride in their neighbourhoods and their city. That means supporting communities by removing ugly graffiti vandalism as quickly as possibly and removing the incentive for taggers,” says Len Brown.

The launch took place at the Scorpions Rugby Club in Otara where local artist Joe Lane worked with members of the club and students from neighbouring Hillary College to paint a ‘Scorpions wall of Legends’ mural.

“If taggers want to paint a wall, there are plenty of initiatives happening around Auckland where we are painting fantastic community murals – like this one,” says the Mayor.

“This mural includes superstars of Otara and Kiwi Rugby League such as Manu Vatuvei, Reuben Wiki and Cynthia Ta’ala and is a tribute to the community spirit of this club and the school.

“I don’t want a grey city – community projects like this are the best way to bring colour and vibrancy to our city at the same time as curbing repeat offences in popular graffiti hot-spots,” says the Mayor.

As well as new tougher eradication targets, AGVP focuses on prevention and the delivery of a consistent service right across the region. Auckland Council’s graffiti team now operates across seven days a week and will deliver proactive services such as education programmes and promoting volunteer projects such as ‘Adopt-a-spot’.

“Bringing an end to graffiti vandalism in Auckland goes hand-in-hand with injecting a greater sense of pride in our community – let’s do both,” says Len Brown.

EDITORS NOTES:

Adopt-a-spot:
The Adopt-a-Spot programme helps neighbourhoods by working with Auckland Council to combat graffiti vandalism in the community. The programme enables Adopt-a-Spot volunteers to take ownership of an area in their neighbourhood to look after and keep
graffiti free.

The area they volunteers adopt can be as big or as small as they wish. Auckland Council will supply the paint, brushes and other equipment to volunteers so that graffiti can be removed from their own, or others properties.

ENDS

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