A Japanese community group is calling for tighter security after vandals destroyed the gate and smashed a Japanese stone lamp at the Fukuoka Garden in Western Springs.
Auckland Council head of operational management Agnes McCormack said the council was made aware of the "senseless vandalism" last weekend.
"Upon investigation, we discovered that the exit gate to the garden and a Japanese lamp had been damaged," McCormack said.
"The discovery is heart-breaking, especially as the lamp is from the original Fukuoka Friendship Garden built in Auckland Zoo, which was gifted to Auckland in 1989 from Japan's Fukuoka City in recognition of the sister-city relationship."
The lamp was a gift, along with the original garden, to the former Auckland City Council by Fukuoka City following a 1986 signing of a sister city agreement.