Hokitika's famous driftwood sign has been destroyed in a suspected act of vandalism, with the landmark's creator saying he witnessed a person dismantling it and was warned the sign would be knocked down again if he rebuilt it.
Don Neale, who has maintained the beachfront landmark since first building it in 2001, said the man made the threat when he spoke with him following the incident.
"If he wants to play his game, I'll let him play his game — I'm not going to get involved in it. I'll just wait," Neale told 1News.
He said he planned to rebuild the sign as summer approached, and would speak with the man again before doing so.
The sign became a permanent fixture on the Hokitika beachfront in 2013 when a rock wall was built in front of town. Neale had been maintaining it ever since, visiting every few days to check on it and replace rotting driftwood.
"Tourists hang off it more than they should and knock it around a little bit," he said.
The sign, one of the West Coast's most photographed attractions, had been knocked down by storms a handful of times over the years, including ex-Cyclone Fehi in 2018.
Neale said he was consistently amazed by the number of people who came to see the sculpture, and that locals were disappointed it had been dismantled.
"It's kind of my sculpture, but it kind of belongs to the whole town in a way. I think everyone takes a bit of pride in it."
Police said inquiries were being undertaken following damage to the sign, but that no charges had been laid at this stage.
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