One of four rainbow-coloured ATM machines celebrating Auckland's Pride Festival has been vandalised in what the bank says was an ignorant and intolerant attack.
Ponsonby residents respond to the vandalisation of ANZ's GAYTM
The Ponsonby Road ATM was defaced this morning with paint thrown on the machine.
It was one of four colourful 'GayTMs' commissioned as part of the bank's diversity programme; two others in Auckland and one in Wellington carry the bright painted designs.
The ATM machine before and after the attack. Photo: SUPPLIED / ANZ
The bank tweeted it was saddened by the attack and said a cleanup was in progress.
Technician tending to our vandalised GAYTM - looks like it's going to be a big clean up job #GAYTMNZ #PRIDE @anz_nz pic.twitter.com/zYxQkyYoDL
— ANZ NZ Media (@ANZ_NZ_Media) February 19, 2015
Our Ponsonby GAYTM was vandalised this morning. Sadly some people still ignorant & intolerant @ANZ_NZ #GAYTMNZ #PRIDE pic.twitter.com/hBDf8xZMcI
— ANZ NZ Media (@ANZ_NZ_Media) February 19, 2015
ANZ's chief financial officer and spokesperson on LGBTI issues, Antonia Watson, said the vandalism was spotted by a staff member early this morning.
"I'm shocked and horrified. It's just such an intolerant thing to have done and spoiled something that was really bringing pleasure to so many people.
"It's just really disappointing," she said.
Ms Watson said the bank was determined to have the ATM restored in time for Auckland's Pride Parade, being held in Ponsonby Road tomorrow night.
The @ANZ_NZ #GAYTM destroyed. Clean up in progress. Yes folks #homophobia is still a thing. pic.twitter.com/pqgw5kPPlR
— Brian Holland (@brianholland) February 19, 2015
A contractor cleaning up the vandalised ATM in Ponsonby Road, Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The director of tomorrow night's Pride parade, Richard Taki said it was a homophobic attack.
"I work a lot in the gay community in Australia and New Zealand and I have seen some horrific things happen, so although I would hope it would never happen, it still is."
