The defacing of a rock face on Mauao, the most prized and treasured landmark in the region, has been likened to the desecration of an Anzac monument.

During Queen's Birthday weekend a young man was spotted carving his name into a rock wall on the base track of Mauao. And it's caused outrage.

The young man who carved his name into a rock face on Mauao Photo: Supplied

The maunga – or mountain – is owned by Tauranga Moana iwi Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāti Pūkenga in the form of the Mauao Trust.

Trustee Awanui Black says what appears to be petty vandalism is dreadfully disrespectful and can be compared to a graffiti attack on a war memorial.

'A little respect, that's all that's asked. If we put it into perspective, if somebody was to spray graffiti over an Anzac monument I'm sure there'd be an uproar about the degradation.

'I can't see why this is any different.”

A Mount Maunganui local, who wants to remain anonymous, sent a photograph to Sun Media showing the act of vandalism.

She discovered the young man carving his name into the rock face. When she confronted him, he said: ‘I can do it if I want, what's wrong with it?'

'I said I was going to take a photo of him, he said: ‘Okay, would you like me to smile?'”

He may not have understood the significance of his act, and judging from the photo he might not be alone. But Awanui says what the young man has done is a form of vandalism – and vandalism of significance.

'In the first instance that mountain is an ancestor to us, and for us as tangata whenua it is the beacon for all of our iwi and hapu in Tauranga Moana,” says Awanui.

'Mauao is a taonga – a treasure – to not only iwi but to everyone who calls Tauranga Moana home.”

It is Awanui's hope that everyone who has enjoyed and will continue to enjoy Mauao are '100 per cent behind us”.

He says if we want to keep Mauao in pristine condition, everyone needs to make sure people who think they can vandalise the maunga 'are kept in check”.

'But also, the maunga itself will react in its own way,” says Awanui.

While he may be speaking metaphorically, a Tauranga City Council spokesperson says this form of vandalism damages the integrity of the cliff faces and leads to erosion problems.

And while it isn't graffiti in the traditional sense, the council agrees – it is vandalism.

'It probably feels like harmless fun but it is disrespectful to Mauao to and everyone else who enjoys the maunga,” says the spokesperson.

The Mauao Historic Reserve is administered by TCC under the direction of the Ngā Poutiriao o Mauao board, which is made up of trust representatives and councillors.

Western Bay of Plenty Police Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair says Mauao is a treasure for all to enjoy and damage to it will be considered anti-social behaviour.

Karl says if police received a call regarding damage which has upset members of the community it could be considered disorderly behaviour.

'Whether it warranted the intervention of the criminal law would depend on the circumstances and would be up to the discretion of the officers who attended. But given the significance of Mauao, Police would respond accordingly.”