Cenotaph tagging 'belittling' to servicemen

IAIN McGREGOR/Fairfax NZ

NEW LOWS: Taggers have defaced the New Brighton Cenotaph.

Those responsible for tagging the New Brighton Cenotaph have "no respect for our history", the suburb's Returned Services Association (RSA) says.

New Brighton RSA president Roger Kenworthy called the tagging "degrading" and "rude".

"It belittles us. They have no respect for our history. It actually can make you cry."

Kenworthy said the tagging was insulting not only to him, but to every serviceman he represented.

If he caught the taggers, he said, "I wouldn't say anything, but my toe would be sore. They need a kick up the backside."

The cenotaph had been tagged in April, which cost the Christchurch City Council "a small fortune" to clean off, he said.

Sergeant Andrew Judson, of the New Brighton police, said tagging was an "ongoing issue" in the area, but targeting the cenotaph was "reaching new lows".

The tagging on the cenotaph earlier in the year was "nowhere near to the extent it has been now", he said.

Judson urged anyone with information about those responsible for the tagging to phone him on 03 363 7400.

- © Fairfax NZ News