A flurry of anti-racism graffiti that appeared across Wellington after the Christchurch terror attack has prompted the city council to set up designated graffiti spaces.
But among the messages of support, there has also been some racism. A swastika appeared on the Cuba St rainbow pedestrian crossing sign and there have been reports of homophobic and racist graffiti beside the Karori tunnel in the aftermath of the shootings at two mosques.
In each instance, however, members of the public were quick to paint it over.
The council apologised last week after contractors removed graffiti reading "Love to all Muslims" and "Stand together, NZ. Our people murdered".
Council spokesman Richard MacLean said the number of graffiti complaints since the terror attacks was low but contractors were aware of "sympathetic and supportive" graffiti appearing on public and private property across the inner-city suburbs.
The words "f... off Nazis" was removed from beside the Basin Reserve on Monday, while other similar sentiments had appeared elsewhere across the city.
The council was in the process of setting up a space in Civic Square where people could share "words of support and aroha for the Muslim community, migrants and those from a refugee background", MacLean said.
The spaces were partly in response to the graffiti, but also because there was a desire for people to have a gathering point.
"We would prefer people don't graffiti public property but we understand the sentiment at the moment."
The wind shields at Waitangi Park could also be used for people wanting to tag or graffiti positive messages.
Just days after the Christchurch attacks, a swastika appeared on the sign beside the capital's rainbow crossing on Cuba St.
It was not clear when the large swastika appeared. The Nazi symbol was – in grim irony – drawn over the words: "In the capital, we walk the talk when it comes to celebrating diversity."
Libby Greatnews spotted the remnants of the swastika, which took up a large portion of the sign, last Monday on her way home. It had been partly removed but was still visible, she said.
A swastika anywhere was horrible but on the rainbow crossing sign it was "especially egregious", she said.
She went home, got some isopropyl alcohol then returned and wiped out any trace of the Nazi symbol.
"We can't let them do this," she said.
MacLean said the swastika was "outrageous, especially at this time in New Zealand".
"We just don't need these types of things. We don't need it at any time."
The council would have prioritised the clean-up if Greatnews hadn't got there first.
"Libby Greatnews is living the Wellington spirit," he said.