Maori artworks near Rotorua attacked

Two significant Maori artworks near the State Highway 36 entrance to Rotorua have been damaged in a chainsaw attack.

Inspector Bruce Horne said the attack took place between 6pm on Thursday and 7.45am yesterday.

"Sometime in that 12 hour period someone has attacked two pou with a chainsaw, felling one and badly damaging the other," he said.

Pou whenua are carved posts placed strategically on the land to acknowledge and represent the relationship between tangata whenua, the people of the land, their ancestors and their environment or trangawaewae, place of standing.

The damage was first reported by an off-duty member of police who was travelling toward Rotorua.

A police scene of crime officer was immediately sent to the scene to carry out a forensic examination.

Police intend to deploy additional patrols into the area over the next few nights in an effort to prevent further offending until the person or persons responsible are apprehended.

"This destructive action is not just a mindless act of vandalism - it is an attack on the Rotorua community," said Mr Horne.

"The pou were an investment made by the Rotorua community and were placed at the entrance to our city as symbols of the esteem in which our local Iwi are held and the importance of the city's Maori heritage."

Local Iwi were involved in the design of the pou, which represent the two sub tribes from the area where they were erected.

Police are appealing for anyone who is able to provide any information about who might have caused the damage to call the Rotorua Police or 0800 TIPOFF. Anonymous information could also be provided through the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

Police are also keen to narrow down the time-frame in which the pou were damaged and want to hear from anyone who saw them intact after 6pm on Thursday and before 7.45am yesterday.

- NZPA