Robyn Edie/Stuff
The Te Anau Wapiti stag statue outside the Fiordland Community Events Centre, minus an antler which was wrenched off early in the new year.
The owners of Te Anau’s life-size wapiti stag statue, which was vandalised in the town early in the new year, are calling on the culprits to come forward.
A replica antler was wrenched off the stag statue, which was gifted to the town by the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation about 18 years ago, to mark the centenary of the release of Wapiti in Fiordland in 1905.
Fiordland Wapiti Foundation general manager Roy Sloan said he had heard a young man had taken responsibility and was claiming it was an accident, but as of Wednesday afternoon Sloan had not heard from him.
He was waiting for the call, and indicated those responsible should pay for the severed antler to be reconnected to the stag or replaced, whatever was necessary.
The damaged antler had been recovered in a boat down the street.
“They shouldn’t have swung on it. It’s stupid, and they need to come forward and do the right thing.”
A police spokesperson said: “The person responsible for the damage has come forward to the Events Centre and the Wapiti Foundation are dealing with this themselves.”
Sloan said the 63-inch-long replica antlers on the life-size stag statue mirrored the biggest set of antlers found in Fiordland.
It wasn’t the first time replica antlers had been ripped off the stag, with the first time in 2011, and in 2014 one of the antlers disappeared.
The antlers were remade “a lot stronger” and the replica stag – then located on the outskirts of Te Anau – was moved to the Fiordland Community Events Centre carpark, where the latest damage occurred.
Te Anau-based Southland District councillor Sarah Greaney said she was really disappointed the stag had been vandalised.
“It was put there specifically as an icon. It makes a good show in front of the events centre.”
Fiordland Community Board chairperson Diane Holmes was also unimpressed.
“I am disappointed the actions of a few reflect on our community at a time of year when we should be celebrating.”
