Dozens of rat and stoat traps set to protect kiwi on the banks of Lake Waikaremoana were found broken, burned and shot with bullets recently.
The traps, set by volunteer charity the Lake Waikaremoana Hapu Restoration Trust, were found by trust president Robert Waiwai on the Whareama Peninsula last week.
Liaison Lisa Waiwai said it was heartbreaking that the work of so many volunteers had been destroyed.
"It's sad, it sort of breaks your heart," she said. "We take it personally because we put so much time and energy into the bigger picture for other people to come and enjoy ... and then people come and do something like this."
Mr Waiwai had brought 18 of the damaged traps back from the remote area, but it was hard to know how many were destroyed by fire.
"Part of the make-up of the traps is there's netting in them that sections them off internally, and in the fire place over there was just ash and netting."
Department of Conservation field centre supervisor Dale Tawawere said everyone was in a state of disbelief over such a "selfish act of vandalism".
"The trust work incredibly hard and this will certainly set their restoration programme on Whareama Peninsula back. The kind of vandalism demonstrated here is of a serious nature and is not acceptable."
The trust would have to seek more funding to replace the traps, many of which were paid for by a Hawke's Bay Regional Council grant. Hundreds of volunteers had also donated their time to setting and checking the traps, including schoolchildren.
"The biggest message we want to get out is that the area is very remote and can only be accessed by boat. It must be people who are familiar with the area and have maybe been using it for hunting.
"We are hoping that someone recognises that they knew people who have been out there hunting recently and do the right thing."
The trust, which worked alongside DoC, would seek more funds when the extent of the damage was known: "But you never know, someone might win the big Wednesday and buy us some new traps."
Contact the Wairoa Police with any information: (06) 838 8345.
