8 Jul 2010

Thieves make off with trees, wetland plants

4:06 pm on 8 July 2010

Hawke's Bay Regional Council staff are angry that thieves have ruined recent planting efforts in Havelock North by dozens of schoolchildren and their families.

Community works facilitator Maurice Smith says 200 wetland plants and 75 native trees alongside the Mangarau and Karamu streams have been stolen this week.

Along one stretch of the Mangarau stream, thieves have taken 90% of the plants, leaving only the flaxes, he says.

Mr Smith says schools have made a special effort to work on the planting, so it is very disappointing.