Constable Mike Johnston said police are tracking a blue Ford Transit rental van, picked up by a group of five Australians last Wednesday from Christchurch International Airport.
The van and its group of allegedly drunk occupants was driven into the Wanaka hospitality precinct of Post Office Lane about 11.30pm on Monday, Const Johnston said.
When the driver reversed out of the busy lane - where two bars and two restaurants are located - the van smashed into an antique lamp post marking the hospitality precinct's entranceway.
The force of the collision ripped the heavy cast-iron post out of its concrete foundations and is also understood to have damaged the rental van, Const Johnston said.
Police have been unable to find the people who rented the van, but expect to catch up with them when they are scheduled to return the vehicle to Christchurch airport tomorrow, he said.
The Post Office Lane marker was an antique London gaslight lamp post, cast in iron at the turn of the 19th century and imported to New Zealand about 1910, where they were used as moulds to cast replica lamp posts used around the South Island.
Two of the antique lamp posts were restored, brought to Wanaka, and installed at the lane in July 2007.
