Reward still open two years after vandals attack glow worm caves

Waitomo Caves.

Nearly two years after vandals irreparably harmed one of New Zealand's top natural tourist attractions, the Waitomo Caves, a reward has yet to be claimed.

Vandals spray painted graffiti and white paint around the glow worm caves in December, 2005, permanently damaging some of the features which attract more than 600,000 visitors a year.

The damage "gutted" locals who pitched in to remove the paint and reopen New Zealand's most famous limestone formations within a day or two.

However, a $5000 reward offered in October last year had not been claimed and Te Kuiti police said today anyone with information would still be paid the money if the vandals were caught.

Sergeant Craig Lindstrom from the Te Kuiti police said it was a heartbreaking to look at the damage to such a popular natural tourist attraction.

The reward was offered by Tourism Holdings, which runs the caves.

"There have been no actual takers on the reward."

He said police still had no idea who the vandals were but police believed they did not have a local connection.

"It was bad. It is still an active inquiry and we would appreciate any information," he said.

The caves were closed after the overnight attack left obscene messages on walkways and splattered white paint around the caves.

The vandals also tried to light a fire and set fire to a plastic paint bucket lid, causing soot damage to the caves' walls and ceiling.

The attack followed a fire a fortnight earlier which destroyed the ticket office, cafe, accommodation and souvenir shop at the caves' entrance.

- NZPA