Police in Blenheim are investigating vandalism at a Marlborough vineyard where 100 vines were cut off at the base, Radio New Zealand reports.
Five rows of vines at the Rarangi block of the Wither Hills estate were cut, along with trellis fencing, wire and irrigation systems. The vandalism took place not far from one of the wine estates to be featured in the next shipment from The World of Wines.
The company is looking at increasing security at the vineyard, which has a total of 400,000 vines.
Viticultural operations manager Geoff Matthews says two men could have done the damage in less than 15 minutes.
He says the vines will have to be replanted and it is too early to tell how much the damage will cost.
The winery has been battling opponents over water rights, but the vandalism is a mystery, he says.
