Paremata Barracks suffer from souvenir hunters

One of New Zealand's most significant historic sites, the Paremata Barracks at Porirua, is suffering serious damage after being picked over by souvenir hunters.

Historic Places Trust heritage adviser Robert McClean said that since late last year, people had been taking stones from the barracks, creating two large holes in the northeastern wall.

The barracks were the only example of a colonial stone-built redoubt - a military fort - in New Zealand, he said, though there were examples of this style of building in South Africa and India.

Governor George Grey had the barracks built in 1846 to secure Porirua and Wellington.

They were excavated in 1959 and since being uncovered, have been vandalised several times.