Auckland is winning the battle against graffiti vandalism. Mayor Len Brown presented certificates of appreciation to a variety of individuals and groups across Auckland who have helped made this happen.

He brought together Auckland’s graffiti vandalism prevention teams, trusts and partners to review progress over the first five years of a united Auckland and to thank those who had made a valuable contribution to the reduction.

Auckland Council’s award-winning graffiti vandalism service was set up after the Mayor made the establishment of a whole-of-Auckland approach to graffiti prevention one of his top priorities in 2010.

The service is based on rapid eradication, targeted enforcement and evidence-based education. The number of incidents of tagging has been reduced by 25% since the programme began. In 2012–13 there were 125,000 incidents of tagging. In 2014–15 there were 94,000.

Most reports of graffiti to the service are removed within 24 hours or less. In the last five years of the united Auckland Council, there has been a 26% reduction in the number of graffiti complaints received.

As part of the event the Mayor presented certificates of appreciation to the following individuals and groups:

• Recreational Services Limited

• Civic Contractors

• Manukau Beautification Trust

• Tag Out Trust

• Thompson & Clark Investigations Limited

• Tasman Research Limited

• New Zealand Transport Agency

• KiwiRail

• Vector

• New Zealand Police

• Chorus

• Graffiti Solutions Limited

Volunteers who also help report and clean up graffiti were also acknowledged during the presentation.