Block Vandal unmasked as council scheme to lure motorists into Wainuiomata

Hutt City Council has admitted that Block Vandal, the anonymous artist behind the brick-style mural at the bottom of Wainuiomata Hill, is part of a long-running strategy to get more people to go to Wainuiomata.

The admission follows months of speculation about the artist's identity, and growing suspicion over why the colourful brick characters can only be properly seen by motorists heading towards Wainui.

Documents obtained by HuttHype show the project was approved under the council's Wainuiomata Visitor Attraction Programme, which had previously trialled free sausage sizzles, a large arrow and a sign showing where to find Piri Weepu’s house.

"Those initiatives had limited success," a council spokesperson said.

The brick artwork was designed to fix that. Each new character is unveiled at a carefully chosen spot on the wall, encouraging motorists to slow down, have a look and drift into the uphill lane.

"Once you've slowed down for a good look, you're committed," the spokesperson said. "There's nowhere to turn around until you're over the hill. By the time you come down the other side, you're in Wainuiomata. And then you might as well get a pie."

Council figures show visitor numbers to Wainuiomata are up 340% since the first brick head appeared. Of those visitors, 12% have since bought a house and moved to the suburb.

Waterloo resident Belinda Harte said she only meant to take a photo for her nephew.

"Forty minutes later I was at the Wainuiomata Mall buying a raffle ticket," she said. "I don't even know how it happened."

Korokoro man Dave Pritchard said he had been to Wainuiomata four times this month.

"I keep telling myself I'll just look at the new one and carry on," he said. "But there is no carrying on. There's only Wainui."

The artist has said they plan to paint around 120 designs, at a rate of about two a week. Council officials confirmed this was not an artistic decision.

"Two a week keeps them coming back," the spokesperson said. "If we did all 120 at once, people would only need to come once."

Officials are now considering a similar installation on the road to Eastbourne, which already has the advantage of having no other way out.