Firebug's antics anger Whangarei locals

A group of Whangarei residents are angry that a firebug destroyed their letterboxes and risked setting a large area of native bush alight.

The residents of Kensington Heights Rise subdivision, off Russell Rd, awoke on Friday morning to find an arsonist had used an accelerant to ignite a large collection of 20 letterboxes at the subdivision's entrance.

The fire had also spread to a small area of nearby bush that could have threatened houses, had it not been put out.

Developer Pat Springford said it would cost about $5000 to replace the large letterbox area, which included a roof to make them easier to access in wet weather. He was angry at the "lunacy" of whoever decided it was a good idea to set it ablaze.

"The letterboxes have been destroyed and a bit of the surrounding bush has been burnt. It's a good job the wind wasn't up or it could have set the whole hillside alight," he said.

A guard rail, which stopped people falling into a creek, had also been burnt, creating another danger, Mr Springford said. He urged anyone who saw suspicious activity near the subdivision to contact police.

A short-term communal mail box has been set up for those who have had theirs destroyed.