Election 2023: National and Labour Party candidate signs vandalised in Tauranga

A damaged National Party and Sam Uffindell hoarding on the corner of Maunganui Rd and Clyde St. Photo / Alex Cairns

Vandals have targeted several National and Labour Party election signs in Tauranga with some being “ripped from the wooden frames” and others defaced with graffiti.

It follows ten Te Pāti Māori signs being vandalised in Tauranga, the word “raciest” [sic] spray painted on some and the word “Māori” cut from others.

Bay of Plenty National candidate Tom Rutherford said between eight and 10 signs had been damaged in Mount Maunganui, Welcome Bay and Pāpāmoa.

He said the signs had been “ripped from the wooden frames.

“It’s either they’re just using their hands and ripping them off or they’re running at the signs and sort of shoulder-barging or charging them.

“It is frustrating. We put a lot of effort into getting them ready, putting them up and the maintenance of them.”

Rutherford said he appreciated people had “different political persuasions” but asked people to be respectful of others’ property.

He said any damage to the signs could be reported via the phone number on them.

“Other people have come to me directly which is fantastic and let me know about the damage and then myself and a team of my volunteers, we go out and repair them where we can. If the sign is really badly damaged, then we will replace it.”

A damaged National Party and Sam Uffindell hoarding on the corner of Maunganui Rd and Clyde St. Photo / Alex Cairns

Tauranga MP and National candidate Sam Uffindell said “about a dozen” of his signs had been damaged. In most instances, the frames were broken.

“And those frames are pretty sturdy too - you’d probably need a sledgehammer to do that.”

Uffindell said Maunganui Rd was the most “heavily hit”. Signs were also targeted on Totara St and in Bethlehem.

“It seems to be on the Saturday nights - people go out there and do a bit of damage to them.”

Uffindell said he and his team of volunteers checked the hoardings “on a regular basis.

“And when they are damaged, then we make sure we get out there and fix them up as soon as possible.”

A damaged Labour Party and Pare Taikato hoarding on Maranui St, Tauranga. Photo / Alex Cairns

Bay of Plenty Labour Party candidate Pare Taikato said her first hoardings erected on August 12 were damaged within 24 hours, with graffiti slogans in Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa.

Six sites with “large, double-sided hoardings” mainly in Pāpāmoa have been vandalised, including being defaced with graffiti and slogans, having wooden legs or frames “smashed down” and hoardings stolen from the frames.

“Because all my campaign team are volunteers, everyone has to manage work commitments and availability to get back out to [the] site ... so they are being fixed as soon as possible.”

Minister of Education and Tauranga Labour candidate Jan Tinetti said to the best of her knowledge, none of her signs had been vandalised.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.