Recent vandalism of new wayfinding signage on sacred maunga - mountain - Mauao has dismayed the Mauao Trust, iwi, and many in the wider community.
The signs are part of a collaborative 'Mauao Placemaking' project between Tauranga City Council and Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao - the Mauao Joint Administration Board, designed to share the rich history and stories of Mauao.
Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao chairman Dean Flavell says the signs have been wilfully damaged, with te reo Māori place names in particular being scratched out.
'These signs are there to help locals and manuhiri (visitors) enjoy this iconic taonga, and a way for the community to connect with our sacred maunga,” says Dean.
'Access to Mauao is a privilege, not a right and anyone who is identified disrespecting the maunga will be trespassed and lose their access to this special place."
Tauranga City Council has reported the matter to the New Zealand Police, with commission chair Anne Tolley making it clear council will not tolerate racist behaviour in the spaces it administers on the community's behalf.
'This is not who we are, or who we want to be,” says Anne.
'Over the last year we've heard loud and clear from our communities that creating an inclusive and vibrant city is important to them, and I know the majority of our community will be just as sad as we are about this act of mindless vandalism.”
Work is underway to scope the cost of repairing the signs, which will be restored as soon as possible.
Additional signage and cultural touchpoints will continue to be installed throughout 2022/23.
More information on the Mauao Placemaking Project can be found on our website.
Mauao historic reserve is owned by local iwi Ngai Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga in the form of the Mauao Trust.
The reserve is managed jointly by the Mauao Trust and Tauranga City Council under the direction of the Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao (Mauao Joint Administration Board).
14 comments
Not ok
Posted on 29-08-2022 19:30 | By Informed
I hope the Sunlive crew reflect of the type of racist comments that they allow to be posted to their site and Facebook page. Allowing this type of toxic speech is the reason that these types of attacks occur.
Straight Out Vandalism
Posted on 30-08-2022 08:02 | By Yadick
How is this racist behavior? It's straight out vandalism. Graffiti is becoming a real problem. It's everywhere in Tauranga. It's good though to hear that Anne Tolley won't tolerate racist behavior like this because it cuts all ways not just against Maori so here's hoping she starts cleaning up graffiti in Tauranga and holding those vandals accountable. Just because someone graffiti a sign about Maori doesn't make it racist, it's vandalism. Probably the same mongrels that stole the defib from up there. Was that racist behavior because it was on the Mount, no, it was theft. Out of interest was that ever found?
Poor race relations
Posted on 30-08-2022 08:15 | By jed
Unfortunately race relations in New Zealand are worse than ever and significantly deteriorating.
@Informed
Posted on 30-08-2022 14:09 | By morepork
No, it is attitudes like yours that fuel Racism. "Toxic speech" requires toxic listeners. Sensible people discard racist language and intent for themselves, without needing Nanny to do it for them through a "Political Correctness" platform. Sunlive should be commended for their open-mindness and even-handedness in getting some of this "undercover" rhetoric out where we can all see it and do something about it. These attacks will occur because there are still people in the community who are racist. It has nothing to do with SunLive Editorial policy. You blaming the platform, says more about you that it does about SunLive.
@Yadick
Posted on 30-08-2022 14:16 | By morepork
You are right and it IS vandalism. But it is not hard to deduce that it is Racially motivated. Choosing to ignore this, won't make it go away. I think cameras in the area MIGHT help... But the real solution is to change the mindset of the people who did it. I'd like to see the culprit(s) forced to have a tattoo that fades after say, 3 months, across their forehead: "I AM A RACIST VANDAL"... but that won't happen...
@jed
Posted on 30-08-2022 14:22 | By morepork
I have to disagree with your assessment. I believe the fight against prejudice against any of our Ethnicities is slowly being won. Racism now is not as prevalent as it was 50 years ago, and kids are getting more enlightened about Diversity. I know that each incident is still extremely hurtful to the recipient but it is down to all of us to speak against such incidents and to intervene when we see them occurring. Don't be discouraged by the reported incidents. Yes, they are bad, but overall, as a society we are doing better. The solution is not to curb Free Speech, it is to educate people so that they can HAVE Free Speech.
Yes, it's Racist.
Posted on 30-08-2022 14:31 | By morepork
It is painfully apparent that this stupid vandalism is motivated by Racism. We just need ONE disaffected idiot who feels his life is miserable because a Maori is getting a better deal than he is, and his anger will be vented in this pointless and stupid manner. We are not going to be able to remove such people from our communities (maybe in another 100 years they will have been bred out and their kids will be much smarter than they are...) but we can do everything we can to ensure that playing fields are level and everybody has the same legal rights and responsibilities and the same chances. We are all in this together, and the sooner that is realized, the better for all of us. Meantime, we need some cameras and security patrols at the Mount.
Yadick
Posted on 30-08-2022 16:51 | By This Guy
If they weren't racist, they wouldn't always be moaning about everything/anything related to Maori. People on this site are constantly whinging about having to read Te Reo on street signs - so it wouldn't surprise me someone saw this, got "triggered" and defaced it out of spite.
Works Both Ways?
Posted on 31-08-2022 07:21 | By Thats Nice
So, if I see a sign in English that has been spray painted, is this also racist?
That’s nice
Posted on 31-08-2022 08:06 | By Slim Shady
If vandals pull down statues or deface anything that they deem to be linked to colonialism, it’s not racist nor vandalism. It’s ok.
@That'sNice
Posted on 31-08-2022 12:11 | By morepork
Answering your question: It depends what the sign is referring to. It COULD be racist or it might just be vandalism prompted by the fact that some idiot had a spray can, and time on their hands. We can reasonably infer that people who don't accept Maoritanga and place names as part of our Kiwi culture are "culture resistant" and that usually manifests as racist. Not all of them will be Europeans, but it is interesting that we generally find better acceptance of diversity from other ethnicities than we do from Europeans. We have a chance here to show the World that multi-culturalism CAN work and people CAN live in a diverse society without killing each other and burning houses. Considering we have over 160 different ethnicities living in NZ and no race riots, we are doing pretty well. Time and education will eventually solve this problem.
@This Guy
Posted on 31-08-2022 12:35 | By morepork
I agree with you that this is the most probable cause for the vandalism. Some people harbor bitter resentment against changes in the culture and can be "triggered" as you say. It takes considerable time (decades) for the realization that resenting it won't change it, but your voice might... That's why we need to fiercely protect our Democratic system and see that all voices get heard. The solution is to make sure that we have true equality and EVERYONE who needs help gets it, without fear or favor. The way you react to people should be governed by the way they behave to you, and not by pre-conceived ideas about their ethnicity. The starting point is respect and politeness, sadly in short supply nowadays. I'd rather see signs at the Mount being defaced, than people being beaten by a mob because resentment turned to violence...
Sigh
Posted on 01-09-2022 07:02 | By Thats Nice
Vandalism is NOT ok - obviously and nor is racism but why are we now so damn quick to deem something racist when it may very well not be? Everyone is getting so sensitive about a sign being vandalized. This has been going on for years, settle down people.
I Believe
Posted on 01-09-2022 13:34 | By Yadick
If this was a racist act of vandalism them it would be far worse. To me this looks more opportunistic by dickheads and no matter what the signage was it would have incurred their dickheadedness (actually I don't think that's even a word but it suits them). @ morepork, I do however like the 3 month tattoo idea - it has great potential. (And they shouldn't be allowed to buy any Thin Lizzy either)
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