Sign gets candidate's approval

Labour candidate Rachel Jones with one of her electoral signs, "The new, enhanced Rachel Jones for Tauranga", which was altered over the weekend. Photo / John Borren

Vandalism and graffiti are often seen on campaign hoardings before elections, but one Bay candidate is so impressed by the dramatic changes to one of her signs, she wants to keep it.

A sign for Tauranga Labour candidate, Rachel Jones, had been removed from its location on Waihi Rd, painted with an "enhanced" version of the contender and placed back to its original location.

The sign depicts her as more youthful and glamorous with a fuller figure, sporting heavier jewellery, added makeup and green nail polish.

"I just laughed when I saw it, it's very well done, it looks like a whole new picture rather than me," she said.

The artist had used the background picture of Mrs Jones and transformed it into a whole new person, "an enhanced, somewhat younger person," she said.

Mrs Jones said she normally wouldn't condone such behaviour but saw talent in the sign.

"We don't want to encourage the damaging of the signs but we recognised the particular effort and talent that went into this one."

Mrs Jones didn't know who the was but was keen for the designer to come forward.

A similar sign had been made for a hoarding in the same area for New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, but his sign had been removed quickly, she said.

Mr Peters' sign depicted him as the Mad Hatter from the children's story Alice in Wonderland.

Mrs Jones didn't think there was a particular message coming from her sign - rather it was an artist looking for an outlet and a way to be creative.

Mrs Jones had toyed with the idea of putting the sign back up on Waihi Rd but decided against it in fear that it could be stolen.

"I think I will just keep it as a memento of the campaign and probably end up framing it actually."

Electoral signs

*Local authorities are responsible for regulating when, where, and how signs, including election signs, can be displayed. Parties and candidates should consult with their local authority about the rules in their area before putting up any election signs.
*The Electoral Act allows for election signs up to 3sq m in size to be put up in the two months before election day (Sunday, July 20 to Friday, September 19 2014). This provision overrides any more restrictive local authority rules about size and timing of the display of signs.