The vine damage came with a financial and emotional cost for the grower, police say. File pic Photo: 123RF
Police are investigating the deliberate cutting of 150 kiwifruit vines in an orchard in Bay of Plenty.
Te Teko rural liaison officer Constable Wayne Lawrence said the damage had set the vines back three years and they would not be harvested for their gold kiwifruit again during that time.
It meant a high financial cost through loss of income and an ongoing cost to repair the vines for the orchardist who might not be able to recoup the costs, Lawrence said.
"This is a mindless act, which has not only caused the victim a financial loss but also a considerable amount of emotional harm."
Kiwifruit orchards were a large employer in the Te Teko area, so the crime also affected employment and investment in the community. Te Teko is a small town on the banks of the Rangitaiki River in eastern Bay of Plenty.
He was encouraging growers to make their properties as secure as possible, by installing CCTV, gate sensors and the use of solid storage.
Members of the public should also report any suspicious behaviour to police. Anyone with information on who was responsible could contact police via 105 quoting file number 221126/4321. Information could also be shared anonymously via Crime Stoppers.