Information for Schools

The project offers a number of potentially useful aspects for schools and in particular alignment with the new curriculum's key competencies. Working with the local community will form an important part of the project and will be the key to its success.

At present the area is a cut through between Gordon and Tirarau Streets, bounded on both sides by wooden fences and a storm drain running the length of the space. As it is not overlooked, some of the fences have graffiti on them, with the potential to spread to neighbouring areas. The project aims to preempt any escalation in vandalism by involving the local community in developing solutions to the problem.

If the graffiti is simply painted over, it might lead to a time consuming and expensive battle of painting out graffiti as it happens and keep on doing this week in week out. It also does nothing to target the underlying problems. By working with the local community and schools we hope to develop a scheme which is 'owned' by those involved in its creation.

Using the arts as a starting point for engaing with the local community enables a variety of opportunities to be explored, which cover the different aspects of the project and pull them together into a coherent scheme. The various elements include the storm drain, which is hoped will be developed into a healthy ecosystem. The fencing which will be adapted to resist further vandalism and a variety of other ideas to be developed during the project.

Photographs of the area between Gordon St. & Tirarau St.

Project Introduction

Briefly, the project aims to tackle graffiti vandalism in the cut through between Gordon Street and Tirarau Street, Dargaville. At present, the fence that runs down one side of the area has been tagged and as the area is not overlooked, it has the potential for more damage and for it to spread further.

Rather than just keeping painting over the graffiti, I applied for funding via the Ministry of Justice's Graffiti Vandalism Programme, to look at creative ways of tackling the issues. The Ministry has awarded the project $27,000 over two years and will start in August 2009.

The project will be developed with local residents, schools in the area, Kaipara District Council and myself, Simon Gray.