As new speed limits are being established in Dunedin, bilingual signage is also being introduced,
In school zones, this includes adding the Māori word for school — kura — to signs.
One new sign in the school zone in Jeffrey St near Anderson’s Bay School, has been defaced, with the word kura painted over.
Local resident Gary Tenbeth said he was disappointed to see the recently erected sign vandalised.
"So sad that we still have ignorant people who have no understanding of our commitment to the Treaty [of Waitangi]."
By Tuesday, someone had attempted to remove the paint but was unable to remove it all.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said as part of its interim speed management plan, introduced earlier this year, several new lower speed limit zones were created outside some Dunedin schools.
"As part of this change, we are introducing new signage, and all councils are now required to use the new Kura/ School signs.
"The Jeffrey St sign was installed last week and appears to have been defaced over the weekend, which is disappointing.
"We think the new signs (and the lower speed zones) are a great initiative."
The defacing of the bilingual sign comes after a mural depicting a Māori Jesus was completely painted over at St Joseph's Cathedral School.
St Joseph's Cathedral School principal Jo Stanley believed the vandalism was a racist attack.
