Just days after election signs started going up in Whakatāne district, vandalism has already begun.

Mayor Victor Luca, who is campaigning to retain the mayoralty, has had three signs stolen from the corner of Peace Street and McGarvey Road.

He put four small signs up on Sunday night with the permission of the property owner, who had told him he was happy to let politicians put up signs on a “first in, first served” basis.

They were small (1200cm x 600cm) signs that he was recycling from the 2022 election.

On Tuesday night they were stolen.

The site, opposite Peace Street Dairy, is the same site where Mayor Judy Turner’s signs had been vandalised during the 2022 local body elections.

During that election, Mrs Turner’s signs had been graffitied with mayoral candidate Nandor Tanczos’s name.

Mr Tanczos had urged his supporters not to vandalise signs but to find a more positive way to support his campaign.

Dr Luca said he preferred people to graffiti the signs as at least they could be washed. “When they’re taken there’s not much you can do about it.”

The larger posters could cost anything up to about $160 each. He would welcome their return if anyone found them.