Wanaka Tree vandals slammed

A visiting photographer from Switzerland has hit out at the ‘‘idiots’’ who took an axe to an iconic New Zealand tree.

One of the lower branches of That Wanaka Tree was chopped off on Tuesday in the ‘‘senseless’’ attack on the lone willow, which grows near the shores of Lake Wanaka in Roys Bay.

The cuts appeared to be from a chainsaw or handsaw.

Matteo Rolfi, who has been touring New Zealand since February, said he took a ‘‘special’’ photo of the tree. He believes his picture is one of the last images of the full tree taken at night with full resolution.

‘‘When I heard about the bad news, I thought that there are too many idiots in this world, but I was really sad and shocked,’’ said Rolfi.

The 29-year-old, who was born in Italy, said the willow is iconic.

‘‘This tree emerging from the water has something surreal which makes every photographer interested about it. The mountains in the background help to frame it in a perfect way.

‘‘The Wanaka Tree is an icon, one of the symbols of NZ. ’’

Wanaka photographer Luisa Apanui was at the lake on Tuesday for a photoshoot and saw large hacked off branches in the water. ‘‘Everyone is pretty devastated. The tree even survived the floods in December, and it’s so sad to see someone did this on purpose.’’

Wanaka Community Board member Chris Hadfield said he was bewildered by the ‘‘completely senseless act’’.

Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Miriam Chittenden said police are investigating.