Rangitīkei District Council frustrated after 50 road signs damaged on single road

Rangitikei District Council is frustrated after about 50 road signs along Taihape-Napier Rd were vandalised over a weekend.

A case of vandals damaging road signs, estimated to cost $10,000 to replace, has Rangitīkei District Council frustrated.

About 50 road signs on Taihape-Napier Rd were damaged on the weekend of August 9-10.

Council chief operating officer Arno Benadie said the council was disappointed that the actions of a few could impact everyone.

“Vandalism like what has happened on the Napier-Taihape Rd over the last weekend costs ratepayers money that could otherwise be spent on other things that are needed on our roads,” Benadie said.

“It’s mindless behaviour and can lead to serious consequences for drivers. The signs are there to improve safety for road users; there’s a real urgency to get signs repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

“People need to stop damaging public property like this because all they’re doing is taking from their own communities.”

The culprits had been identified and were being followed up by police.

The council had dealt with a range of vandalism in 2025, with graffiti, damaged council property and theft contributing to “a needless waste of money” that came out of ratepayers’ pockets.

The council asked anyone with information on the vandalism around the district to report it to police on 105 or confidentially through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively, the council can be contacted to help fix the problem.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.