Re-elected MP's signs vandalised

Tukituki National MP Craig Foss takes down a vandalised sign that he put up on Havelock Rd, after retaining his seat at the weekend. Photo / Paul Taylor

A pair of signs put up by National MP Craig Foss to thank the people of Tukituki for re-electing him lasted two days before vandals attacked them with a knife.

Mr Foss has put up the signs after winning the Tukituki Electorate in the last four General Elections.

"We've done it every election. Normally I put them up for about a week. This time of course, I've taken them down early."

Mr Foss put up the signs with a simple blue spray-painted message "Thanks Craig" on Havelock Rd on Sunday.

But on Tuesday night they were subject to a "targeted and quite deliberate" attack.

"Both [signs] were slashed, torn and stripped down ... It wasn't the sheep in behind there, I'll tell you that."

Mr Foss said the attack had saddened him.

"They weren't political signs, they were thank you signs - that's the bit that worries me.

"It's just a nice thing I always try to do.

"It's democracy, the people spoke, but these people are clearly angry."

In the lead-up to the General Election at the weekend, Mr Foss' election billboards were repeatedly vandalised.

In one instance, he woke to find 18 of his billboards defaced - some of them on Havelock Rd - in what he described as "a co-ordinated attack".

He said there had "absolutely" been more vandalism of political hoardings during this year's election than prior ones.

Asked if he had a message for the culprits, Mr Foss said: "The people that do this I don't think read the paper or participate in our community.

"They're scum, and a lot of other adjectives I won't use."