Mayoral Candidates Are Looking For A Cutting Edge - But Not From Vandals

Tuesday, 2 September 2025, 4:28 pm
Article: Linda Hall - Local Democracy Reporter

Faces cut out, rubbed off or given a Nazi sign on a forehead - local election hoardings are drawing the attention of vandals throughout Hawke’s Bay. 

The latest victim, Hastings mayoral candidate Damon Harvey, had his face chopped out of at least five of his signs over the weekend. 

Harvey said he was unsure why his hoardings were singled out in areas that included other candidates.

“If they’ve got an issue with me, then let’s have a face-to-face catch-up. That’s the best way to tackle it,” Harvey said. 

Napier City Council incumbent mayor Kirsten Wise, who is restanding in the October elections, said seeing Nazi graffiti on her sign was pretty disappointing. 

“It felt offensive not just to me, but to our wider community. There’s no place for that kind of symbolism here,” Wise said. 

“Campaigns should be about sharing ideas and engaging with people respectfully. It’s really disappointing when things cross the line into vandalism and intimidation.” 

Steve Gibson, Hastings mayoral candidate, said he had two signs stolen and one defaced.

“I got a nice curly moustache on one, which was surprising given I already have a beard,” Gibson said.

Wendy Schollum said three of her Hastings mayoral candidate billboards had been defaced. 

“Aside from a few creative facial additions, one had my face rubbed out completely. 

“Instead of replacing it, I’m talking to an artist friend about sketching a cartoon version of my face back in,” Schollum said. 

Hastings mayoral candidate Marcus Buddo said a few of his signs had been tagged. 

“It’s disappointing and pointless,” Buddo said. 

Hastings mayoral candidate Darren Wilson said while he had a lot of posters inside buildings, there were only 10 placed outside, and none had been vandalised. 

Napier mayoral candidate Richard McGrath had a couple of signs ripped off a fence on Taradale Road.

“It’s disappointing and costly,” McGrath said.

Napier mayoral candidate Nigel Simpson said, so far, none of his signs had been damaged. 

A police spokesperson said the penalty for wilful damage depends on the severity of the offence. 

“The maximum penalty can be up to three months’ imprisonment or a $2000 fine,” they said “Police tend to receive several reports of signage vandalism during the time political hoardings are up.” 

They said they had not been sent any reports relating to wilful damage of electoral signage in Hawke’s Bay. 

A spokesperson for Hastings District Council said CCTV cameras didn’t operate outside the city centre. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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