Removing graffiti 'censoring'

Plans to remove "unsightly" graffiti from the historic gun emplacement on the Otago Peninsula could be seen as a form of censorship, a Dunedin street art enthusiast says.

A newly formed group hopes to rejuvenate and restore the historic gun emplacements at Harington Point, which would include removing most of the graffiti and street art from the concrete bunkers.

Dunedin Street Art Walking Tour organiser Victoria Gilliand said there was no clarity about what would be saved and what would be painted over.

"The group have good intentions to keep the nice artwork and just buff the other unsightly graffiti, which is a very subjective thing. You could say that they are censoring the artwork."

As soon as the walls were bare they would be covered in graffiti again, Ms Gilliand said.

Gun embankments all around the world were covered in graffiti and it was not going to go away, she said.

"The battle is already lost, so don't start."

People visited the embankments to photograph the artwork in the beautiful surroundings, not for grey concrete bunkers, she said.

The bunkers also provided a space for Dunedin street artists and muralists to practise and hone their craft.

Restoration committee member and Dunedin military historian Peter Trevathan said some significant pieces of street art would be kept but most of it was vandalism.

Mr Trevathan said he was happy to meet Ms Gilliand or anyone else concerned about keeping significant street art but would not be talked out of removing everything else.

"I don't have a problem with the stuff done by the proper artists because it's really cool and it's somebody who is known and it's quite good art work but the other stuff is just vandalism, I'm sorry."

There had been talks between the group and New Zealand Antique and Historical Arms Association about the possibility of installing a piece of artillery once the restoration was complete.