Local residents are dismayed by damage to the Pūrākaunui salt marsh, which occurred in the last week of October. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDPūrākaunui residents are "gutted" after a section of ecologically valuable salt marshes was torn up by dirtbikes recently. West Harbour Community Board member and Pūrākaunui resident Duncan Eddy said the damage occurred in the last week of October. The Pūrākaunui salt marshes had been "badly carved up" and many local residents were "gutted", he said. "People need to realise that the Pūrākaunui salt marsh is an important ecological area, not a place for hooning on dirt bikes."

Source: Otago Daily Times November 13, 2024 15:37 UTC