Sign damage cost is 'huge'

Four road signs in the Pungaere and Waiare Rd area near Kerikeri are the latest to fall victim to vandals. Photo/FNDC

Vandalism and theft of road signs is costing Far North ratepayers more than $100,000 a year, Mayor John Carter says.

In the latest incident, the poles on four warning signs in the Pungaere and Waiare Rd area, near Kerikeri, were smashed in what is thought to have been a targeted attack.

Now Mr Carter is appealing for the community's help in bringing those responsible for the ongoing thefts and destruction to account.

As well as the cost of replacing the signs, the absence of warning signs puts the travelling public at risk.

"The potential impact on road safety in the absence of readable warning signs is huge. It's only a matter of time before somebody is seriously injured or worse," he said.

"Smashed or missing road signs are also not exactly a great advertisement for the Far North in the eyes of visitors to our district."

Mr Carter said the council made every effort to get signs repaired or replaced as quickly as possible, but sometimes it could take several days before missing or damaged signs came to its attention. There could also be delays if new signs had to be manufactured.

Mr Carter urged anyone who saw road signs being damaged, or who has information about people who have damaged signs, to contact the council or police. People could also help reduce the risk of accidents by reporting missing or damaged signs as soon as possible.

Late last year, also near Kerikeri, guests at an 18-year-old's birthday party smashed and damaged a series of road signs in the Inlet Rd and Wharau Rd area.