b'turning off the taggersInspiring the community to take pride in their environment, the Manukau Beautication team has many colourful projects on the go.I n summer, its not unusual to spot teamsmurals and public spaces to deter grafti.used to cover up grafti (see box).young of school children with paintbrushes in hand, carefully adding bold ourishes toThetrustsoperationsmanager,BarbaraStaffalsospendtimeeducating large murals that enliven fences and wallsCarney, explains that the projects undertakenchildren, working closely with primary and inpublicplacesaroundManukauCity.includegraftiremoval,paintingmurals,intermediate schools in Manukau. For that Sometimes you see groups tending gardens,education and garden competitions. But,agegroup,saysBarbara,educationis even cleaning up footpaths and streets. Itsby default, by far the most time is focusedfocused on prevention. Once children are at all part of an initiative by the Manukau Cityaroundgraftieradication.Agraftihigh school, its almost too late.Council to inspire pride in the community. removal team has seven vans that travel throughout the area every day, removingTherearealsoManukauSchoolsFunand About10yearsago,thethen-mayorofgrafti from beside main arterial routes, onActivity Days held at the Auckland Botanic ManukauCity,BarryCurtis,establishedfences and council property.Gardens where children take part in a variety Manukau Beautiful to provide and promoteofhands-onactivitiesincludingplanting projects that enhance the visual beauty ofThe trust helps commercial property ownerspot plants, making scarecrows and painting NewZealandsbiggestcity.In2001,theby planting trees and shrubs next to high riskcolourful mural tiles with images of ora and project became the Manukau Beauticationwallsa proven deterrent to tagging andfauna. CharitableTrust,supportedbyManukauvandalism. It also gives property owners adviceThe school programme aims to encourage CityCouncilandcompanieslikeResene.onprotectivecoatingsandothertaggingpride,respectandresponsibilityinthe As well as offering an affordable rate forpreventative measures. To monitor the successstudentstowardstheirenvironment. itsanti-graftiproducts,Resenedonatesof the project, the trust keeps tabs on theBarbara takes a police ofcer with her to recycled paint through the Resene PaintWisenumber of tags theyve dealt to; the area ofschools to discuss the legal implications of programme to cover grafti and for use ontags in square metres and the litres of painttagging. We usually take the children to 30'