Giant penis drawings show up on Auckland road in protest at collapsing beach road

Monday, 1 July 2019

 Frustrated by the state of a popular winding beach road, a resident has taken it on themselves to draw giant penises on the road to get local authorities' attention.

At least 10 penises showed up on the weekend on Piha Road on Auckland's west coast, at several key locations of the 'collapsing road' where it was uneven, too narrow and at sharp corners.

Residents of the beachside community are finding the visual protest amusing, even tagging the artist as Piha's very own 'Wanksy' after the Manchester artist who uses penis graffiti to force authorities to fill in potholes in the UK.

Local Bobbie Carroll said no one knows who the culprit is.

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Auckland Transport said it was clearly the work of someone who has 'too much time on their hands'.

Local MP Chris Penk said the graphic protest was probably towards the delayed timelines of fixing West Auckland roads, which was often a 'cock-up'. 

'I think it's brilliant, our road is collapsing and nothing's been done about it,' Carroll said.

She said she noticed the spray painted phallic drawings on Saturday. 

She believed it was to protest Piha's deteriorating road which was in desperate need of attention.

The road was collapsing after four recent slips and cars travelling uphill struggled, often driving towards the centre line or on the opposite lane, to get up safely.

'I have an MX-5 car and I can't drive it on the road because it punches the bottom of the car.

'It's disgraceful that we have to deal with this on a daily basis. The road is in absolute poor condition.'

She said it was impossible for any vehicle to drive on Piha Rd without crossing the centre line. 

'It's never been this bad. If the road collapses we're in the poo.' 

Auckland Transport spokesman Mark Hannan said the vandalism on the road was blacked out on Monday and would be blasted to permanently remove it during the week.

'Someone has too much time on their hands and may want to reflect on the extra cost that their actions have imposed on local ratepayers,' Hannan said.

Penk, the Helensville National MP, said there was often underlying frustration about road maintenance timeliness in West Auckland, 'whether due to cock-up or conspiracy in any given case'.

'That applies particularly where community safety is threatened by poorly maintained roads. I'd certainly suggest that constituents at least attempt to contact AT in the first instance, however.'

Hannan said AT was planning extensive work on Piha Road from just above the lookout to the beginning of Seaview Road.

'The road surface is in a poor state and there are four slips that need urgent attention.'

Work was likely to begin in early 2020, Hannan said.