Pukekura Park senior field staffer, Ray Pope near where one of the nikau palms have been ripped out of the ground. Photo: Supplied / NPDC
Vandals have ripped out $2000 worth of nikau palms at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park.
The palms - some standing more than a metre tall - have been pulled out of the ground in recent weeks, the New Plymouth District Council said.
"These are heavy nikau palms - it would have taken a lot of effort to remove them and it's just so brazen," Pukekura Park curator Sheryl Clyma said.
"We're developing these areas for the community to enjoy, and the staff are really disheartened to see their work destroyed."
Two sets of park gates in the city have also been damaged in the past week.
On 6 November the gates at the entrance to East End Reserve were rammed by a car, while on the following day a car hit the entrance sign at Bromley Place Reserve. Repairs to both were likely to cost about $2500, the council said.
Vandalism costs the New Plymouth council about $100,000 in repairs annually, it said.