Vandals hit Ohariu logging site

Vandals have caused $250,000 worth of damage to property and machinery on a tree-harvesting site at Takarau Gorge, near Ohariu Valley.

Karori senior constable David Ross said it appeared a group of people had used the grappling arm of an excavator to push a log skidder down a hill and then rolled it.

Both these heavy vehicles are essential to the tree-felling project at the Takarau Gorge site. The hydraulic arm on the log skidder also snapped, leaking 120 litres of hydraulic fluid.

Mr Ross called the vandals' actions "wanton destruction". It is not yet known if both pieces of machinery have to be written off.

The Takarau operation is run by Horowhenua Harvest, and owner Sharo Sievers said it was impossible to know the loss of business or financial costs the company would incur as a result of the vandalism.

He expected work at the tree felling site would cease for anywhere up to a week.

It is not the first time criminal acts have occurred at the Takarau Gorge site.

An excavator was recently moved about 700 metres down the road, and tools and diesel were stolen.

Measures were taken to protect the site. All valuables were locked away and logs were placed across access points to the machinery.

- The Wellingtonian