The vandalism of the star compass atop Tauranga’s iconic landmark Mauao is “gutless racism”, an iwi leader says.

The pounamu touchstone on top of the Atea-ā-Rangi, star compass was vandalised overnight. Photos show deep scars in the greenstone.

The cultural compass and plinth area around it has been closed to the public.

Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley told Local Democracy Reporting the vandalism was the “usual gutless racism by illiterate and inarticulate reprobates”.

“It’s something we sadly come to expect.

“Those rocks are really sacred, and they think they can destroy it. It will never be destroyed.”

The Atea-ā-Rangi was unveiled in June 2022 to mark Matariki, the Māori New Year, by the Ngā Poutiriao o Mauao Trust in collaboration with Te Puna I Rangiriri Trust.

Mauao, meaning caught by the dawn, is the sacred tūpuna maunga (ancestral mountain) of the three iwi of Tauranga Moana – Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Pūkenga and Ngāti Ranginui and Te Arawa iwi, Waitaha.

Ngāi Te Rangi chief executive Paora Stanley. Photo / Alex Cairns

Stanley said it was a sad day for the people that vandalised the taonga.

“That’s the only way they can express themselves in anonymity.”

Mayor Mahé Drysdale said he was deeply disappointed someone had vandalised the precious pounamu touchstone.

“This is a despicable and disrespectful act which should not and will not be tolerated.”

It had been reported to police and the council encouraged anyone with helpful information to come forward, “so that those who have committed this wanton vandalism can be held accountable”.

Speaking in a video posted on Moana Radio Tauranga’s Facebook page this morning, celestial navigator Jack Thatcher said the damage had been done with a sharp instrument.

“At the moment it’s [the pounamu] injured.

“We can’t be talking about retribution. There’s no blame, it’s happened, all we want is to be able to restore it.”

Buddy Mikaere at the top of Mauao. Photo / Andre Warner

Mauao trustee Buddy Mikaere said he was sorry to learn of the vandalism.

“There’s little instances of vandalism all the time. People are defacing signs and stuff like that. Some people just need to get a grip on themselves.”

A sign on the maunga was defaced with stickers in May this year and te reo Māori place names on other signs were scratched out in August 2022.

The signs were installed in 2022 as part of a collaborative placemaking project between the Tauranga City Council and Ngā Poutiriao ō Mauao (the administration board), designed to share the rich history and stories of Mauao.

Temporary restoration work was being undertaken this afternoon around the cultural compass. All other areas of Mauao and all tracks remain open.

The original artists of the Atea-ā-Rangi would travel to Tauranga to assess the damage at a later date.

The taonga stone on the Atea-ā-Rangi on Mauao (the Mount). Photo / Tauranga City Council

Once the assessment is complete, a timeline for repairs will be established. During the repairs, Mauao will be fully closed.

The Mauao Trust asked people not to climb or lean over the fencing to view or take photos of the compass, to prevent further damage.

“We also ask the public to respect the maunga and the forthcoming closure,” a representative said.

A “Mauaoathon” fundraiser for Tauranga’s Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney will still place on Saturday.

Sydney has been unable to take up his position and has been in Waikato Hospital since July with a rare form of encephalitis.

Hemi Rolleston has organised a Mauaoathon to raise money for his nephew Mikaere Sydney (inset). Photo / David Hall

Mauaoathon organiser Hemi Rolleston said they were disappointed and saddened by the vandalism

He climbed Mauao this morning and was “upset and heartbroken” to see the damage.

“But it’s galvanised us even more to show our commitment to Mikaere and the maunga.”

Participants will climb Mauao as many times as they want between 5.30am and 5.30pm, and raise money through sponsorship for their climbs.

Police are investigating the vandalism and a spokesman said no one had been arrested yet.

The council asked anyone with information to call 105 or report online at 105.police.govt.nz, using the file number 241213/4295.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.