Why target the Wetland walk?
Te Aroha Fish & Game vice chair Guy Rasmussen says he simply wants to know why the new signs at the Howarth Memorial Wetland in Te Aroha have been vandalised.
During the weekend of Saturday August 13, a member of the public alerted Fish & Game about the vandalism.
The Howarth Memorial Wetland walk is a one hour loop walk through a wildlife refuge and it is maintained by the local Fish & Game group on a voluntary basis.
This walk is mostly flat, and accessible from several areas.
The track includes a boardwalk leading to a bird watching hut with great views of the wetland.
Rasmussen didn’t want to speculate about who may be responsible for the vandalism and said they will have to dig deep to get more signs for the area.
‘‘It’s tragic isn’t it? That a year of planning to produce these signs can be destroyed in minutes,’’ he said.
‘‘Fish & Game along with the council worked hard to have these signs put in place for the benefit of all members of our community.’’
Matamata-Piako District Council also installed some new signage which has been vandalised and these were funded by ratepayers.
Matamata-Piako District Council senior communications advisor Adele Preston said it was very disappointing to hear of vandalism to signs at the Wetlands in Te Aroha because it affects everyone.
The new track map signs were installed by the local Fish & Game committee, a non-profit group which relies on membership sup- port and fundraising, she said.
‘‘The person that spray painted the sign is clearly upset about the no cycling rule. Cycling has never been allowed on the Wetlands track,’’ Preston said.
‘‘The signs are simply stating the rules that have always applied. There are plenty of other places to cycle including more than 30km of mountain bike tracks in the district and about 20km of easy off road cycle trail.’’
Preston wanted to also remind people that dogs needed to be on leashes as the Wetlands are managed as a wildlife refuge.
The incident has been referred to Police and Matamata-Piako District Council would be interested to hear from anyone who has information regarding the vandalism and graffiti on the signs.