By Adam Ray
Horowhenua's mayor says simmering tensions over a Maori land claim could be behind vandalism that left a trail of destruction at a rowing club.
Locals are blaming a small group of individuals aggrieved over land claims after 25 of the Horowhenua Rowing Club’s 30 boats were attacked over the weekend.
Seventy-five different holes were stabbed into the boats, and some are so badly damaged they may be beyond repair. It is a crippling blow for a club with just 40-odd members.
“To see all these boats we've rowed in for years, people have owed in for years, to see them trashed is disgusting,” says rower Max Mason.
Many in the community suspect a small group who claim the club's occupying Maori land.
One of them has been caught on club premises twice already this year.
“Club members have been abused, our property threatened, and now we find this damage,” says club treasurer Jo Mason.
Horowhenua's mayor says it involves a tiny minority of the local iwi but they're fuelling resentment throughout the community.
“The tension is building, and the message I am getting from Muaupoko is that they have had a gutsful,” says Mayor Brendan Duffy.
“We have great supporters from within Muaopoko. They came yesterday and were grieving with us,” says Ms Mason.
3 News spoke to the man many blame for the vandalism. He said he had no connection to it and has an iron-tight alibi.
He did say, however, that the club is squatting on Maori land.
Police say their investigation is in its early stages and wouldn't talk about suspects.
The rowing club says it'll be weeks before any of their damaged boats are back on the water.
3 News