Vandals have caused around $120,000 worth of damage to gravestones at a Dunedin cemetery.

Up to a dozen headstones have been pushed, pulled or kicked over at West Taieri Cemetery near Outram.

Bill Price has been looking after his mother's headstone at the cemetery for over 20 years, but discovered the stone in three pieces when he came to visit a few days ago.

"I had a sister down from Auckland and I would have liked to show her what it looked like standing up properly, you know I have photographs of it it but it's just disappointing to see it lying down like that."

Mr Price said the headstone will cost between $6000 to $8000 to repair, which he and his family will need to pay for.