Gore's brown trout statue defaced overnight amid drinking water crisis
Photo:
GREENPEACE AOTEAROA / SUPPLIED
Gore's iconic brown trout statue and welcome sign have been defaced, with Greenpeace claiming responsibility.
In a press release, Greenpeace Aotearoa said it was
highlighting the town's drinking water crisis
.
Last Friday, local residents were issued a do not drink notice after high levels of nitrates were found in the water supply.
The notice was lifted on Monday evening.
Greenpeace Aotearoa said the dairy industry had "wrecked" Gore's drinking water and it was unacceptable the community was unable to drink the water coming out of their taps.
But Federated Farmers called for Greenpeace to be stripped of its charitable status, and said the vandalism was a "shameless attempt to divide the rural community and spread anti-farm propaganda".
"Greenpeace need to be held accountable for their repeated illegal activity," Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick said.
"I think it's a total abuse of charitable status.
"How can they be recognised as a charity when they're breaking all kinds of laws trespassing on private property, vandalising public property, and intimidating the community."
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