Two pou whenua have been vandalised along the Abel Tasman Coast Track since Saturday — one defaced with a hammer and another covered with paint.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) said two separate pou whenua were vandalised, one at Medlands Beach and another further along at Marahau.
Pou whenua are carved posts that are used to mark out boundaries or places of significance to Māori.
The vandalism of the first pou whenua was reported on Saturday while the second was reported this morning.
DOC acting operations director Phil Crawford said it was “hard to believe” someone would vandalise cultural pieces along a Great Walk.
“The first pou whenua looks as though someone took a hammer to it and paint was thrown over the second.
“These are mindless acts of destruction. Honestly, we’re not sure which is stranger — that someone would do something like this, or that they planned enough to bring a hammer and paint along to do it.”
Crawford said he hoped someone had seen something, given the number of people believed to be on the track over the past several days.
“If anyone has any information about this, please contact the DOC HOT line on 0800 362 468 or NZ Police on 105.”
One of the pou whenua is of Hohāia Rangiāuru, an important Te Ātiawa chief of Motueka.
An online hui with mana whenua and DOC was held yesterday where Hohāia’s descendants expressed sadness at the vandalism.
“Ka tangi te ngākau i tēnei mahi tūkino,” said Melanie McGregor, great-granddaughter of Hohāia. “I lament this act of violence.”
Replacement and future protection measures for all the pou in the National Park were discussed, DOC said.
Mana whenua plan to visit and perform karakia at the site to impose a rāhui which will deem the site tapu until further notice.
