The vandalism of a piece of art on a Manawatu Gorge hiking trail has caused a surge of anger in the community. 

Whatonga —a six-metre-tall steel statue on the Tawa Loop Track— has had its phallus removed with steel cutting equipment last Saturday night. 

Local iwi Rangitāne say they are extremely disappointed with the disrespectful act on one of the region's most iconic landmarks. 

Te Āpiti-Manawatu Gorge Governance Group Chair Fiona Gordon says it appears to be pre-meditated, and they want the vandals to own up. 

She says they hope those responsible understand they won't have succeeded in any way in diminishing Whatonga's mana through this act. 

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