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Auckland Council is calling out as totally unacceptable a recent spike in vehicles being illegally driven on sports fields and walking tracks, making them unusable, and costing ratepayers thousands of dollars.
Recent incidents include cars and quad bikes being driven on much-loved sports fields, motorbikes and scooters tearing up walking tracks, and the construction of unauthorised BMX tracks in public reserves.
The council’s urging anyone who witnesses illegal activity in the city’s parks and open spaces to report it to police and to report any damage to fields, parks and walking tracks to its online report a problem tool.
General manager parks and community facilities, Taryn Crewe, says Auckland’s parks are for everyone to enjoy, and it’s deeply frustrating to see such wilful damage.
“Our parks are places where people connect with nature, play sport, and spend time with whānau and friends.
“It’s disheartening to see behaviour that damages these spaces, especially when it means we have to divert funding from other projects, like planting, maintenance, or improving facilities, to cover repairs.
“The majority of these incidents are happening in the wetter winter months, when tracks and fields become more easily damaged, and quieter conditions provide cover for irresponsible behaviour.”
In the last month, sports fields have been targeted, with vandals causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage at Ōrākei Basin rugby field, while recent motorbike-related vandalism has caused significant damage to playing surfaces at Mountfort Park in Manurewa.
Both events impacted the local club’s ability to play on the fields.
Park rangers are also seeing a growing number of incidents involving vehicles in local and regional parks.
They include dangerous driving and excessive speeds on park roads; damage to chains, bollards and gates to access restricted areas; and the creation of makeshift mountain bike tracks and jumps for dirt bikes, mopeds and e-scooters in protected areas.
One ranger in South Auckland has reported incidents occurring every night over the past week.
Council staff and contractors are working hard to repair the damage, but the financial and environmental costs continue to grow.
“Our teams put a lot of care into maintaining our parks so they’re safe, welcoming and accessible year-round,” Crewe says.
“We really appreciate the community’s support, whether that’s reporting issues or just helping keep an eye out. When we all play a part, our parks thrive.”
