Vandals have torn through Invercargill's Eastern Cemetery, destroying dozens of flowers and tributes placed on graves and memorials.
City Council parks manager Robin Pagan says it's a senseless and hurtful act, and wanton vandalism.
Staff are cleaning up the area, and police are investigating.
Senior Constable Craig Colyer says the destruction began at one end of the cemetery and continued through to the area kept for children's graves.
Several pieces of evidence have been sent away for forensic testing.
Senior Constable Colyer says someone in the community knows who vandalised the cemetery and is asking them to contact police.
