Manapouri residents have been left dumbfounded after several mature native trees were felled, in an apparent act of vandalism, over the weekend (25 Feb).

Several trees were illegally felled last weekend in Manapouri. Photo: SDC

The trees, a large beech, a totara and several smaller trees were all on public reserve land overlooking Lake Manapouri.

Local Southland District Councilor Sarah Greaney said council was made aware of the vandalism to the trees on Sunday morning by Manapouri resident and Te Anau community board member Julie Burgess.

Greaney said she understood the incident had happened on Saturday night.

"It is just beyond comprehension how somebody can just take a chainsaw to, what is essentially part of the council's reserve [and] destroy something that has taken years and years to establish and grow," Greaney said.

Greaney said this wasn't the first time.

In 2010 around 30 trees on Manapouri's foreshore were poisoned.

"Residents and Manapouri have had to contend with people poisoning trees and just being disruptive previously," Greaney said.

"It's just extremely disappointing. You can't replace something that's taken 50 to 100 years to grow."

Police said they had received a report of wilful damage at Frasers Beach and were now in the initial phase of their investigation.