Hokitika's famous driftwood sign destroyed in suspected vandalism

<p>Hokitika's famous driftwood sign has been destroyed in a suspected act of vandalism, with the landmark's creator saying he witnessed a person dismantling it and was warned the sign would be knocked down again if he rebuilt it.</p> <p>Don Neale, who has maintained the beachfront landmark since first building it in 2001, said the man made the threat when he spoke with him following the incident.</p> <p>"If he wants to play his game, I'll let him play his game — I'm not going to get involved in it. I'll just wait," Neale told 1News.</p> <p>He said he planned to rebuild the sign as summer approached, and would speak with the man again before doing so.</p> <p>The sign became a permanent fixture on the Hokitika beachfront in 2013 when a rock wall was built in front of town. Neale had been maintaining it ever since, visiting every few days to check on it and replace rotting driftwood.</p> <p>"Tourists hang off it more than they should and knock it around a little bit," he said.</p> <p>The sign, one of the West Coast's most photographed attractions, had been knocked down by storms a handful of times over the years, <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2018/02/01/hokitikas-famous-driftwood-welcome-sign-destroyed-by-storm/" target="_blank">including ex-Cyclone Fehi in 2018</a>.</p> <p>Neale said he was consistently amazed by the number of people who came to see the sculpture, and that locals were disappointed it had been dismantled.</p> <p>"It's kind of my sculpture, but it kind of belongs to the whole town in a way. I think everyone takes a bit of pride in it."</p> <p>Police said inquiries were being undertaken following damage to the sign, but that no charges had been laid at this stage.</p>