‘I’m trying to do my job’: Councillor reacts to racist graffiti

Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley says she will not be intimidated by those trying to silence her nor will she stop doing what she loves to do.

Bartley’s comments come after racist graffiti was spray-painted on fences, and buildings near her home.

“I don't know if it's the same guy doing it, but previously during the campaigns there was the, you know, ‘coconut’ being tagged, ‘black bitch, brown bitch’ being tagged on my billboards,” the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki councillor told 531pi’s Pacific Mornings.

Watch Josephine Bartley’s interview below.

“Lately though, because the billboards are not up because we're not in a campaign, this person seems to be tagging on people's fences, on private property, on buildings.

“But the tags are ‘the bitch’, still’ the fat’, and still things like that. And I don't understand why. You know, all I'm trying to do is my job as a councillor.

“My family keep telling me, ‘Go and do something else where your safety is not at risk’. But I feel like God put me in this position, and I need to do as much as I can to benefit our communities while I'm in there. So I shouldn't be put off by fear.”

This is not the first time Bartley has been subjected to racist graffiti since being on the council for more than five years.

In 2021, she was contacted by a member of the public through her email address about the Waitematā cycle crossing.

“I thought you brown-skinned people gave a toss. Obviously, I was mistaken. Time you go. Goodbye at the next election,” the email read.

Fed up with the racist comments, Bartley responded on her social media accounts in an effort “to try to draw out the problem and make it stop”.

But the bullying hasn’t stopped, she said, adding that the latest prejudiced campaign would affect people interested in local government positions.

“I don't think I've dumped anybody that would go to this extreme. So really, I just find it so unfair because it puts off the next people wanting to run for positions. They see all this and they get put off.

“One thing about Auckland Council is it's mainly been a Palagi-dominated environment. The mayor and the people sitting around that table have all been Pakeha. And now we're getting diversity come through, there's more hate coming through.

One of several graffiti targeting Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley. Photo/supplied

“It's not good because we want Auckland's governance to reflect the diversity of Auckland's population.

“I know people are upset about decisions that you make and I understand that when it's issues-based. But when it's personalised, you expect a bit of it but not ongoing because I've been in council for five and a half years and it's all the time.

“I got a little bit upset last week so I did a Facebook post because I went to a community event and for the first time I had to look twice at people coming up to me. I never used to do that before but I had to think, is this the person that's doing the tagging? You know, are they gonna try and stab me?

“I have to think like that. When I take my dog out for a walk, I have to look over my shoulder if I hear a weird noise. I never used to have to do that. My Palagi colleagues, I doubt that they have to do that. So it does make you think.”

In July 2023, Mayor Wayne Brown said “There’s no place for racism,” after facing criticism about a controversial mayoral relief fundraiser.

"Racism has no place in the council or society as a whole," Brown said.

Bartley said the council has been very supportive, providing security and “they have given me lots of advice about what I need to do, keep myself extra safe”.

“But me personally, I feel like if I did that then I wouldn't be the councillor that I am because my strength comes from being out in our communities and being on the ground. I don't want to change that. I don't want to stop going out to my communities, especially when they invite me to come to things and ask for my support on issues.

“When I got the verbal attack from those people during the vaccination rollout, Fa’anana Efeso Collins was the one that organised Mealamu Security to come and keep an eye on my place.

“With the council's support, they appointed me some bodyguards to go out to the vaccination events. I don't think any other councillors ever had to have bodyguards before.

The Government's 'pet bonds' means tenants are liable for any damage to the property caused by their pets. Photo/supplied

“You look at council and the decisions we make there. It's obvious the majority of councillors own their own homes and are well off. They probably don't even do their own shopping.

“They seem to be kind of removed from some of the realities our communities are facing out there.”

Take for instance the pet bonds, Bartley said.

Changes in store for renters and landlords

The coalition government is introducing pet bonds, set at a maximum of two weeks’ rent, and can be charged to the existing bond.

This means tenants are liable for any damage to the property caused by their pets including any accidental, careless or intentional damage beyond fair wear and tear.

But Bartley said while the new "pet bonds" are being brought in with the hope it will help ease the process for renters who own or want to own pets getting a home, landlords will still have the right to refuse in some cases.

“Is it really beneficial for pet owners or is it beneficial for landlords? Because it is very hard to be able to have a pet and find somewhere to live. Very, very, very hard. Very sceptical.

“If it will make landlords consider taking people in with pets, then hopefully it's a good thing. Because anything that will make a landlord allow you to have a pet hopefully works. But again, it just comes down to the landlord's decision. They can't make the landlord take you in with a pet. This will make it legal for landlords to charge you two weeks extra.

“This is an ACT Party policy and they did it because they said it's going to help that negotiation between landlord and tenant which clearly shows the Act Party don't live in the real world because it is not an equal playing field when you go looking for a tenancy, when you go looking for somewhere to live. You're vulnerable and you take whatever conditions your landlord gives you because you're grateful to get a house.”

Josephine Bartley Bartley wants the proposed 90-day no-clause evictions Bill scrapped. Photo/supplied

Bartley has called on the government to scrap its 90-day no-clause evictions bill that’s being introduced in Parliament.

There have been concerns the government's tenancy changes won't affect rent prices.

The bill will bring back 90-day no-cause terminations for periodic tenancies.

Labour had removed them last term. But Housing Minister Chris Bishop said it would push down rents.

Aspire Property Management said that the government skipped the removal of deductibility, which would have more of an impact now.

Aspire added that landlords were not talking about 90-day notices and the property firm believed this wasn’t the time for them.

Bartley said she was concerned because most Pasifika rent and would be affected by this legislation.

“The landlords can kick you out for no reason as long as they give you 90 days’ notice.

“That's very concerning for us as Pasifika because 65 per cent of us rent. Not many of us own our own homes, a lot of us rent.

“They're trying to make it easier for people to live with their dogs but at the same time, you can be kicked out as well.”

Bartley said she’s hopeful more landlords will give people with pets a chance in the wake of governmental changes.