A monument to remember New Zealanders who died in World War I has been damaged and left covered in rubbish and broken glass, following an outdoor party at Wellington's Botanic Gardens.
Botanic Garden after an outdoor party on Friday night left a commemorative World War 1 sculpture damaged. Photo: Supplied
The sculpture, Victory Medal, by artist Helen Pollock, has been touring museums throughout New Zealand and was installed in the garden last month to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.
The sculpture will be at the site until mid-November.
Botanic Gardens manager David Sole said the council was "pretty disgusted and disappointed" with the mess left on Friday.
"It's clearly a sign that the people involved have no respect. This is supposed to be an area for peaceful reflection - not anti-social partying and vandalism."
Late-night parties have taken place in the area over the years during the warmer months - but council staff were upset at the level of rubbish left on the weekend, which took more than two hours to clean up.
Mr Sole said security guards would be posted to the area in coming weeks to make sure a similar mess was not left again.
Botanic Garden after an outdoor party on Friday night left Remembrance Ridge covered in rubbish, broken glass and a commemorative World War 1 sculpture damaged. Photo: Supplied
