The site of the new Hairy Maclary statues on Tauranga's waterfront has been vandalised overnight with the words "Feed the kids. Eat the rich".
The grass in front of the statues has been spray-painted with the words in black.
Police had been called to the site and council contractors are on their way to clean the sculptures.
The vandalism comes ahead of today's family fun day to celebrate their completion after years of work.
The bronze statues which cost more than $600,000 were unveiled on Thursday by Prime Minister John Key.
