Many signs showed that local elections were in full swing over the last three weeks – including plenty outside student flats. What encourages people to turn their front yards into a massive election advertising space? Critic Te Ārohi talked to some of these flats to find out.
One of the most prominent signs in the student area belongs to Mayoral and City Council (DCC) candidate Lee Vandervis, soaring over the corner of Dundas and Cumberland Streets. According to the students who live at that flat, Vandervis door-knocked their flat early in the campaign cycle.
Putting the sign up doesn’t seem to indicate a show of support, though, with the tenants seeming as agnostic towards the sign as they are towards the priorities Vandervis is campaigning on. The sign has been frequently targeted by vandals, but the tenants didn’t seem too fussed. In fact, one told us: “Fuck that guy, I don’t care.” Perhaps it was because, contrary to our expectations, they never actually got anything for their trouble. Asked whether he compensated the tenants for allowing his sign up on their lawn, Vandervis responded: “No. What would they need compensation for?”
Eagle-eyed observers would’ve also noticed the sign getting high – originally at ground level, Vandervis’ grinning visage now towers 4.1m above passers-by (according to Critic’s estimates). According to the tenants and Vandervis, this was apparently because the sign was being repeatedly abused and defaced. While this seems to breach DCC rules, which only permits a maximum height of 2.0m for signs in residential zones, Vandervis says he’s never been pulled up by the DCC about this. He added that “the DCC have failed to provide any justification for these new rules,” claiming that they “target[ed] my previous placard strategy”.
Meanwhile, on George Street, fellow Mayoral and DCC candidate Carmen Houlahan has a massive sign on what is perhaps the lushest spot of grass for day-drinking on the entire street. Critic Te Ārohi were unable to get comment from tenants in the studio room complex. Houlahan told us that the property is owned by a family member, who allowed her to erect the sign. She did not say whether tenants were informed that campaign signage would appear on their property.
Also on George Street, Elliot Weir – or, at least, a cardboard version of them – can be seen grinning out a flat window. The student, ORC candidate and Critic Te Ārohi’s Features Editor approached the tenants directly as well, although they said it was “casual as hell… because we’re all mates.” The tenants added that this was their primary motivation in putting the sign up, “just to help a mate out”.
Signage woes or no, we’re all looking forward to the days when these googly-eyed monstrosities retreat back into their holes… until next election season.