KEY POINTS:
Police are hunting a vandal who chainsawed half-a-dozen pine trees in Gisborne under the cover of darkness at the weekend.
Gisborne police senior sergeant Tony Gibson said the attacker cut down four pine trees at Watson Park, one at the Boy's High School and one at Waikanae Beach in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It was "bloody horrendous" and a "senseless act" of vandalism, Mr Gibson told the Gisborne Herald.
"I'm sure the people of Gisborne will be mortified to think someone is going around damaging their precious pines."
It was clear the man was handy with a chainsaw, as the trees were cut down in a clear and clean way, he said.
Police had been alerted to the vandalism after a Waikanae Beach resident heard a chainsaw going and saw a man running away.
The man jumped into a waiting car and threw the chainsaw on the back seat, then reversed backwards up the road without headlights.
Mr Gibson said the offender was described as a Caucasian man, aged between 19 and 25. The car was dark-coloured.
Police were following up leads and anyone with information should contact police.
- NZPA
