5 September 2024

Media: Local Democracy Reporter

Topic: Graffiti

Enquiry

I am doing a small story on how the Rotorua Angler's Association (and that patch of buildings along there) have been graffitied quite a bit lately. (most recently it has received recycled paint from resene to fix it. He said it hasn't really happened on the scale it has now until recently)

I reported last year graffiti was increasing and the expected cost of clean up last financial year was about $100,000.

What was the actual cost?

What is it projected to be for this financial year?

Council received 407 reports of graffiti to march last financial year, up from 186 for the full 2021/22 financial year and 79 the previous year.

What was the whole of last financial year and what has it been this current financial year?

I understand the association leases the land from the council - how much of an issue has graffiti been for council-owned land in this last year?

What has the trend of occurrence been and what is the believed reason why?

Who is doing it, why?

Where are the problem areas?

Does the council have any tips for people who are repeatedly targeted?

How does the council go about responding to complaints of graffiti? I.e. where, when, how and why does it put resources into helping/resolving graffitied property?

Why is graffiti bad?

The area of land the angler's assoc is on is quite visible to a busy road - how does graffiti impact on Rotorua's reputation to visitors and how does this impact how the council deals with it?

Response

From Rotorua Lakes Council spokesperson:

Graffiti impacts negatively on how a place looks and affects how people feel about it. That’s why we, like many businesses address it promptly whenever we spot it or it’s reported.

Our public spaces are meant for everyone to enjoy, and vandalism or graffiti ruins this experience for everyone. It’s always disappointing to see public building, playgrounds and other areas damaged or defaced.

We suspect an area might be targeted, we work with local groups and schools to create murals. These murals add local character, foster a sense of community pride and help deter graffiti.

Graffiti is a crime and we report it to the police when appropriate. For graffiti reported to council, we send it to our contractors to be cleaned up as quickly as possible.

Last year through our City Clean contract it cost us $102,332. This financial year we have spent $75,998 on graffiti and we estimate it will cost us $110,000.

Council has received 135 reports of graffiti to date this financial year, down from 629 for the full 2023/24 financial year.

If you see vandalism or graffiti happening, call 111 immediately to report it. If it has already occurred, please let Council know by phoning 07 3484 199 or emailing information to info@rotorualc.nz.

Note to reporter: The $102,332 cost for graffiti doesn’t include Parks and Reserves sites as graffiti cleaning is included in our service agreement with our contractors. Only if the job can’t be handled quickly then it is then referred to a specialists.