More Info →Graffiti attack sickens deacon Chronicle 29 Sept 1995

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Description: In September 1995, the Rangiatea Church was attacked with graffiti.

A Rangiatea Church deacon was left in tears following a graffiti attack over the weekend on the 146-year old church.

Otaki deacon Douin Hapeta said he was sickened by the attack.

"This is what's happening to our church when our backs are turned.

"We have had the church closed for 18 months for its restoration and to have to come one day and find these sorts of things... it's sickening.

A bright orange star was tagged over a noticeboard at the front of the church and several pages on a visitors book scrawled with pen marks.

A memorial site of Te .Rauparaha across the road was also tagged with the same coloured marking.

Mr Hapeta first discovered the graffiti on Sunday, but had left it on the church for the public to see.

"I want this to be noticed by the people. I don't give a dam what the sign is... it should not have been done on this church or anywhere else significant to people.

"This is damaging a lot of the hearts of the people who put a lot of effort into building this church."

Mr Hapeta said the culprits of the attack had no feeling for what the church represented and the people who worked hard to build it.

"To me they are sick. There is no thought or love in that."

The deacon said if anyone was going to clean up the graffiti it was going to be him.

"I will clean that off with a lot of sadness in my heart."

He planned to leave the graffiti up for another week.