Taieri MP Ingrid Leary was informed of the graffiti, which was spray-painted on office windows featuring images of the MP, early yesterday morning.
‘‘If this is the abuse they level at politicians, we can only imagine what the trans community has to endure at their hands,’’ she said.
Ms Leary said the anonymous actions showed cowardice, and that far from shaking her resolve, the attack had confirmed her commitment to advocating for the rights of all women, including trans women.
Taxpayers would foot the bill for the graffiti clean-up, ‘‘which is frustrating for everyone’’, Ms Leary said.
She said she had made a complaint to police.
Feminist group Women’s Liberation Aotearoa posted a photo of the graffiti to Twitter at 11.57pm on November 2, hours before it was discovered by council staff.
The post suggested the vandalism was prompted by the release of a governance and administration committee report regarding the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill, which proposed changes to legislation making it easier for people to change their sex on birth certificates.
The report was released on Monday.
Ms Leary has been an outspoken supporter of the changes.
