Tagging and Graffiti - Victoria University of Wellington

Tagging and Graffiti: attitudes and experiences of New Zealanders
school talks with the vest, graffiti in Eastern Wellington dropped away to negligible figures (T.
Gommans, personal communication, May 26 2009). However, an unintended consequence of
this kind of crime prevention initiative is that it moves the problem around to other suburbs 4 .
The western and northern suburbs of Wellington have apparently reported an increase in
graffiti and tagging since the introduction of the ‘pink vest’ initiative in eastern parts of the
city (City Life Independent Herald, March 2009). In addition as Gommans notes, crime
prevention initiatives might not lead to sustained and continuing reductions in offending
behaviour.
For over six months I had hardly anything. It was great because I have other things I
have to do but slowly it started to come back. A lot of them now know about the pink
vest and they put down the spray can when they know the consequences.
(Constable T. Gommans, May 26, 2009)
A second education programme, run by Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust (MBCT),
shows Year 5 to 8 students the impact on their community of graffiti (B. Carney, personal
communication, June 2, 2009). Run in conjunction with community police officers, students
discuss the issues around the problem then help to ‘paint out’ a targeted wall or space in
local parks, reserves or walkways. MBCT’s Barbara Carney believes that undertaking the
clean-up gives students pride in the work. MBCT also gives presentations on the topic to high
school students. A further MBCT initiative, ENVIRO ARTS, works with at-risk youth in a
programme teaching new skills and attempting to build their self esteem. Carney explained
that this gives them employment skills for a trade, as the practical experience of building park
benches, retaining walls and similar can facilitate entry into further training or labouring work
(B. Carney, personal communication, May 8, 2009).
It is clear that in New Zealand currently the issue of graffiti and tagging is a source of
concern for communities and politicians alike. It is also clear that there are a number of
diverse initiatives that are focussing on dealing with the issues that graffiti raises. Those that
have been successful are those that are most closely aligned to the attitudes of the young
people and graffiti writers studied in this research project. For example, those that clear up
‘tagging’ and replace them with murals or graffiti art are successful because the ‘rules’
relating to graffiti strongly prohibit tagging on respected ‘pieces’.
4 This is also apparent as a consequence of alcohol bans which have simply moved the problem of
street drinkers from Glover Park to Cuba Street to Aro Valley, and is a form of displacement often
associated with this kind of crime prevention initiative.
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