Vineyard loses 100 vines to vandals

Blenheim police are investigating vandalism at a Wither Hills vineyard where 100 mature grapevines were cut off at the base.

Police said today five consecutive rows of vines in one block at the Rarangi vineyard appeared to have been cut with loppers or a similar tool between 6pm last Friday and 8am on Monday.

Wither Hills viticultural operations manager Geoff Matthews told the Marlborough Express newspaper the damaged plants were by the roadside. Trellis and irrigation systems had also been cut.

Mr Matthews said the plants were worth about $50 each and had been planted in 2002. They would have to be replaced.

"We are extremely disappointed and mystified as to how someone would go and do something like this," he said.

Wither Hills has drawn local controversy over its bid to seek resource consents to take water from aquifers in Rarangi, 22km northeast of Blenheim.

- NZPA