Vandalism of DOC signs costing hundreds of thousands of dollars

The Department of Conservation (DOC) manages 26 759 signs across Aotearoa. In the 2024/25 financial year, the department spent NZ$350 523 on repairing and replacing signage. Its budget for the coming year has been set at NZ$587 248. Over the three-year span from July 2022, 1 155 signs have been repaired or replaced. In the South Island alone, 902 signs are flagged for replacement or repair.

The types of damage speak clearly: bullet holes, signs being driven into, keyed until unreadable, or removed entirely. DOC asset inspector Charlie Barnett reports encountering “at least two or three badly damaged signs each month” on his inspection rounds.

According to DOC’s strategic asset manager Kushla Tapper the consequences go beyond cost. Some signs lose their reflective capacity when vandalised, which affects their visibility in poor weather or dark conditions, and that can be the difference between safety and significant harm for visitors.

The message from DOC is clear: the funds and time spent repairing vandalised signage could otherwise go into maintaining tracks, huts and conserving biodiversity. They ask the public, if you see a damaged sign, take a photo, note the location, and report it to your local DOC office.

For those of us working in parks and open-space leadership, this is a timely reminder. Signage is more than visual infrastructure; it supports visitor safety, orientation and asset stewardship. Protecting it protects the places we manage and the people who use them.

To read the original article from RNZ click here