Faeces in the fernery: Town's attraction closed by people pooing

A popular Masterton tourist attraction has been forced to close for the day after repeated incidents of people defecating inside it.

Masterton District Council shut the fernery at Queen Elizabeth Park on Wednesday, saying staff had discovered several incidents of people using the historic building as a toilet.

"We’ve had several incidents recently of people defecating in the fernery," the council said in a statement.

"This is a public health hazard and our teams are in the process of cleaning it up, aiming to have it reopened tomorrow."

A council spokesperson said: "This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable – and disrespectful to other park users. It is thankfully rare. There are excellent public toilets literally two minutes from the Fernery in Queen Elizabeth Park, and regularly-praised toilets a few minutes away in the CBD."

The spokesperson warned that defecating in a public place was an offence under the Summary Offences Act 1981.

"Police will be advised if it recurs and individuals are identified."

Friends Of The Park chairperson Diana Abraham, whose group worked to maintain and protect the facility, told 1News the repeated defecation was "revolting".

"That's disgusting — revolting," she said.

Built by the Masterton Beautifying Society in 1924, the fernery housed more than 60 varieties of fern, making it one of the Wairarapa's most distinctive green spaces.