Kāpiti Coast mayor Janet Holborow. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker
A spate of vandalism, including broken glass being tipped in toilets and smashed basins, could cost Kāpiti ratepayers thousands.
During the past month, there has been $80,000 worth of damage to toilet facilities in Ōtaki.
Toilets at Campbell Park in Paekākāriki were also repeatedly targeted by vandals, who smashed bowls and basins, graffitied, and tipped broken glass and sand down the toilets and drainage system.
One of the vandalised toilets in Kāpiti. Photo: Supplied
In October last year, damage of $25,000 was done to eight public toilets in Waikanae, Paraparaumu and Raumati over Labour Weekend.
Property and Facilities maintenance manager Kelvin Irvine said the money to fix damages was limited and responding to high levels of damage could not be sustained long term.
"Unfortunately, this type of behaviour has escalated in the last year and we are running out of money to fix smashed toilet bowls and basins, remove graffiti and clean up disgusting messes," Irvine said.
"At some point we'll have to make the call to either scale back repairs or close facilities. We can't keep this up."
Kāpiti District Mayor Janet Holborow said people in the community would know who had vandalised the facilities.
"If you do know who is doing this, please have a strong word with them," she said.
"If you are doing this, find another hobby.
"We recognise it is a difficult time and some people are doing it tough. Taking out your frustrations on a public toilet is not the answer and just makes things worse for everyone."
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