Gary Barclay, from Te Aranga Marae community garden in Flaxmere which was wrecked over the weekend, with sprinklers system ruined, plants ripped out and cars driven around the grounds. Photo/Paul Taylor
Hastings councillor Henare O'Keefe is at a loss as to why the Te Aranga Community Garden was wrecked by vandals at the weekend.
Mr O'Keefe arrived at the garden site on Monday morning to find someone had cut the gate's chain and driven around the grounds dumping rubbish, stealing produce and ruining gardening equipment.
"I'm just flabbergasted really. It just breaks your heart and you wonder how you can love people like there's no tomorrow and that's still not enough.
After feeding hundreds of families since operations began in 2009, Mr O'Keefe said the project had been spoiled by a "misguided" few who could have simply asked for help if they were in need.
Fruit trees were stripped, vegetable plants were ripped out of the ground and bags of pine cones which were stored to distribute to families in the winter were taken.
A newly-installed automatic sprinkler system, courtesy of Unison, was also wrecked as the vandals ripped sprinkler heads from the ground.
Mr O'Keefe said the incident had been reported to the police and, while the chances of the culprits being caught were slim, he thought someone in the community would know who had wrecked the garden.
The community garden began as a result of the "Enough is Enough" Hikoi in June of 2008 and was granted the lease of five acres of bare land in Flaxmere next to the Te Aranga Marae.
Each spring the garden is replanted with the help of the community, Te Aranga Marae and many sponsors who donate native plants, fruit trees, compost and their own time to make the garden a success.
U-Turn Trust chief executive Ana Apatu said the vandalism was disappointing as the charitable trust had worked hard to support families in the area.
"Most of the time our dealings with the community are positive but unfortunately every now and then we are hit with vandalism."
She said the vandalism had dampened the community's spirits and she challenged those who created the damage to "front up".
Despite feeling "bitterly disappointed" Mr O'Keefe said those tending to the garden couldn't afford to wallow as there were too many families in the community relying on them.
"I've said to the troops we've got to get straight back on the horse."
He said while the quantify of food that could to distributed would be diluted he was sure the community would recoup it.
"There's a wonderful giving spirit in this region of ours,