Graffiti Removal

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Graffiti

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We have a zero tolerance attitude toward graffiti. This section will give you tips and ideas on preventing and removing graffiti in your neighbourhood.

In general, we will remove free of charge any graffiti than can be seen from a public space – such as a road, reserve, walkway or car park – regardless of whether the graffiti is on public or private property.

Removing graffiti from your property quickly (within 24-48 hours) is the most effective deterrent. Rapid removal significantly reduces the chance of graffiti vandalism reoccurring.

Our free graffiti removal service was launched in July 2003. Between July 2007 and July 2008 we removed 776 instances of graffiti, bringing the total of requests to remove graffiti since 2003 to more than 3,582.

Report graffiti

Types of graffiti

Graffiti can take many forms including designs, words or images using chalk, paint, scratching, acid etching or other materials such as stickers and bill posters.

Tags: A tag is the writer's signature. Written in one colour, it is done with curves and letter deformations. Tags are not confined to spray paint, they may also be written in marker pens or etched on glass.

Throw-ups: A throw-up is usually written with solid or bubble-style lettering. It is similar to a tag in that it showcases the writer's 'signature'.

Pieces: Short for 'masterpiece', pieces are large-scale, multi-coloured features which may include characters, backgrounds and letters. Pieces are intended to be complete art works and are most often done with spray paint.

Bombing: Tags, throw-ups and pieces done in a spree. As much as possible, as quickly as possible.

Etching: There are two types of etching graffiti - Acid and Dutch (scratching graffiti onto a surface).Return to top

Graffiti is a crime

In New Zealand, under the Summary Offences Act 1981 (wilful damage offence category), all graffiti on public or private property is a crime punishable either by imprisonment, community work orders or fines of up to $2,000.

Our staff take photographs of all reported graffiti, and provide the police with copies to help them track down the offenders. In the last year the police recorded 211 wilful damage offences related to graffiti in New Plymouth District, making up 15 per cent of the total of wilful damage offences.

The cost of graffiti

Graffiti sends a signal that nobody cares, which can attract other forms of crime to the community. It can decrease the sense of safety as it is a visual reminder of lawlessness. Neighbourhoods with graffiti may also see a decrease in property values, loss of business growth and less use of transport systems.

The financial cost of graffiti is difficult to calculate. In the year to July 2008 we spent $154,000 removing reported graffiti, but a lot goes unreported and is cleaned up by members of the public. This figure also does not include the costs of prevention or surveillance strategies.

In addition to the monetary costs of graffiti removal and prevention there are also environmental and physical aspects to consider. Removal of graffiti usually involves chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. These same chemicals can also affect the well-being of the perpetrators of graffiti.

Graffiti Guide

The Graffiti Guide: Graffiti Free New Plymouth is a free brochure about stamping out graffiti in your neighbourhood.

It contains most of the information from these pages and can be picked up from the Civic Centre, Puke Ariki, Bell Block, Waitara and Inglewood library and service centres, Neighbourhood Support, and the Citizen Advice Bureau.

If you would like a copy posted to you please contact us on 06-759 6060 or use the Contact Us online form.