Thieves and vandals have been active in the Bay of Islands over recent weeks, nicking or damaging roadside signs from Russell, Kerikeri and Whangaruru.
Two weeks ago a billboard at Orongo Bay, near Russell, advising that kiwi live in the area, vanished without a trace.
David McKenzie, chairman of the Russell Landcare Trust, which put up the sign, said the previous DoC version had upset some dog owners who maintained that dogs were not the only animals killing kiwi, so the trust had replaced it.
"We were very careful with the language used, and a lot of consideration went into the wording," he said.
The new sign, asking cat and dog owners to control their pets, was erected in July. McKenzie said whoever stole it would have needed a car big enough to carry it off.
