'Racist' vandals deface pa | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A race-based graffiti attack on the entrance to the prized and historic Otatara Pa site near Taradale has revived memories of what many had hoped was a past era.

The latest attack involved a series of daubings in blue paint, on buildings, fences, carvings and pavement - the age of the offenders possibly indicated by one image, a swastika, in reverse.

There were several incidents more than 10 years ago, including arsons which damaged raupo huts, plants and other structures and fittings on the site, restored in the 1990s in a joint-venture between the Department of Conservation and the Otatara and Waiohiki communities.

Community leader Denis O'Reilly said he thought everyone had "moved on", and added: "It's sad that some people are still trapped in that frame of mind."

He said the latest attacks were in contrast to the unifying events at the pa, which overlooks the Tutaekuri River and the Heretaunga Plains, towards te maunga Kahuranaki and has a pre-European settlement history dating back at least six centuries.

Among the events was a visit in which American rock music legend Joe Walsh delivered a powerful message against the drug P in 2004, amid members of usual Black Power and Mongrel Mob rivals who united in a haka honouring the visit. "I've seen a lot of non-Maori go up there and draw strength, in a quite unifying way," Mr O'Reilly said.

The graffiti he said was "highly racist" and stupid, but had been quickly removed by modern-day rangatahi.