More than 900 of the Department of Conservation's iconic green and yellow signs have been damaged with bullet holes, driven into or ‘keyed’, so much so that information can’t be read or understood.
DOC’s Strategic Asset Manager Kushla Tapper says it’s frustrating to see the destruction across the country.
Tapper says it’s not just a vandalism issue - it’s about keeping the public safe.
Figures revealed by DOC shows that in the South Island alone 902 signs are flagged for repair or replacement.
Currently there are 26,759 signs across New Zealand, with each sign taking a significant amount of time and money to tend to.
DOC spent $350,523 on signage in the 2024/2025 financial year. Next year's budget has been increased by two thirds to $587,248.
“If people aren’t well advised on the difficulty level or the approximate return time it can leave people ill-equipped, which could then become a matter of life and death.”
