Tasman District Council Responds to Vandalism of Bilingual ‘Welcome to Tasman’ Signs

The Tasman District Council has reaffirmed its support for te reo Māori following repeated vandalism of its bilingual ‘Welcome to Tasman’ signs in the Upper Buller area. The council has described the acts as “mindless narrow-minded” behavior and a waste of ratepayer money.

Repeated Attacks on Bilingual Signs

Over the past year, “racists” have targeted the signs by removing te reo Māori sections and, in some cases, replacing them with offensive graffiti. The council’s five bilingual welcome signs are located on highways and major thoroughfares into the Tasman region.

According to Chris Choat, Tasman District Council’s communications manager, there have been between 12 and 15 incidents of vandalism of those signs in the past year. Choat stated, “Those signs have been vandalised to the point that we’re under no illusion that it is the te reo portion of those signs that seems to be offending a small number of people.”

The Council’s Response

The council has taken measures to protect its signs, but Choat acknowledged the financial burden this imposed. He said, “It’s not a big number, but it’s the ongoing nature of this that diverts time, money, and personnel away from other projects that we could be doing.”

Choat emphasized that te reo Māori is an important part of the council’s assets and community identity. The council has called for greater respect towards te reo Māori and said it had no time for racism in the region.

A Call to Action

Choat urged those responsible for the vandalism to consider the broader impact of their actions. “Of course, you can express your opinions in a variety of ways that don’t cost ratepayers money. If you do feel strongly, use those channels, not ones that put another zero on the ratepayer’s account.”

The Tasman District Council has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting te reo Māori and will continue to rectify any damage caused by vandalism.

A Message from the Council

The council stated, “No-one is losing or giving up anything through the use of te reo Māori. In fact, we are gaining something. Whakamutua atu tēnei mahi nanakia. E whakaute ana mātou ki te ao Māori, te reo Māori me ōna āhuatanga… We respect the Māori worldview, language and culture. Do/be better, guys.”

The council’s commitment to supporting te reo Māori is clear, and its response to the vandalism of its signs reflects a strong desire to promote understanding and respect for this important aspect of New Zealand’s cultural identity.