Former Manukau Institute of Technology site has branding removed but graffiti remains

A South Auckland property at the centre of community concern for being run-down has had most of its branding removed, but the paint job didn’t extend to the graffiti.

The former Manukau Institute of Technology campus in Ōtara now belongs to the Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

The Ministry says the $43 million property will eventually be used for housing, but it is currently almost empty, and its grounds are overgrown with many buildings uncovered in graffiti.

The MIT branding has been removed. Photo/ Mary Afemata

Since the story about community concerns ran last week, a number of large MIT branded signs have been either removed or painted over.

The graffiti has not been touched.

Initially, MIT said the property was “looking a little unloved at present”, but it wanted its branding to remain visible to car and foot traffic.

But last week on Wednesday and Thursday, MIT removed its branding.

It confirmed that with the Ministry's permission, the temporary banners were removed from buildings and signage painted over at their previous South Campus site in Ōtara.

The signage has been in place for several years to indicate to the community that they are still very much in operation in the suburb, just a little further down the road.

MIT says the maintenance of the surfaces of the buildings is a matter for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

A spokesperson from Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says MIT has arranged the removal of the signage with the Ministry’s consent as they no longer operate on the site.

At this time, the Ministry acknowledges the concerns of the community and is working with its property manager and the wider community, to come up with a plan to tidy up the site.