Vandals in four-wheel drives have mowed down 38 pōhutukawa trees on Napier’s Marine Parade.

The damage was done overnight on Saturday, after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees, Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise said.

She said the council was concerned at the behaviour and said an early estimate to replace the damage came to $20,000. What’s left of a pohutukawa tree after vandals mowed 38 of them down on Napier’s Marine Parade.

“These trees were planted for our community by the Rotary Club as a gift over the past five years,” Wise said.