Whitebaiter disgusted at arson attacks

Jim Hartley, Hastings, sitting in one of the torched whitebaiter shelters along the Tukituki River near Black Bridge. Photo / Paul Taylor

A veteran whitebaiter says arson attacks on shelters at the Tukituki River has meant a bitter end to this year's season.

Jim Hartley, Hastings, who has been whitebaiting on the Tukituki River for 30 years, said vandals had set fire to two shelters on the banks of the river near Black Bridge in the space of a few weeks.

He hadn't experienced such brazen attacks on the shelters before.

"Someone just set fire to the shelters and all that was left was the [corrugated iron]. The people that did this, they're fire bugs - it is arson."

Te Awanga's Tina Symmons, who built one of the destroyed shelters at the start of the season, said the materials had cost her up to $700.

In the past month, she knew of two other huts that had been attacked - one was burned and the other was "trashed".

A woman who had used the hut with Ms Symmons and did not want to be named said it had been "a very good shed".

"It was brand new. Someone seems to be torching them one after the other. I think it's just imbeciles. Anyone with any brains won't be doing it. It's disheartening when you see very brainless acts being done."

The second shelter was burnt last Thursday. Owner Alex Sutton arrived at his hut to find the couch inside still smouldering.

"They didn't succeed in burning the whole thing down, but they tried," Mr Sutton said.

Haumoana Fire Brigade officer in charge Graham Arthur confirmed the fire crew had been called to two whitebait shelters on fire on the banks of the Tukituki River in the past month.

The brigade had reported the first to police as suspicious.

Mr Hartley said the attacks had meant a bitter end to this year's whitebaiting season, which officially finishes on Sunday.

"They could be targeting cars next year. It's a lovely area, there among the trees by the river, and it's just a shame."

Aside from the fires, he was pleased with his haul of whitebait this year, although he hadn't caught any white gold over the last three days.

" If it rained tomorrow, we would get them.."