BROCKVILLE COMMUNITY GARDEN AT WAR OVER WHETHER KALE WAS PLANTED AS A JOKE

A Brockville community garden has descended into open warfare over four rows of kale that nobody will admit to planting, with committee members split on whether the crop is a legitimate contribution or a long-running prank that's now knee-high.

The kale, described by one gardener as "bloody everywhere", was first spotted in August. By October it had colonised the entire western bed, elbowing out a silverbeet that had been doing quite nicely.

"Nobody put their hand up for it," said committee treasurer Moira Blackwood, 61, who lives up the hill. "We had a meeting. We had two meetings. Bruce reckons it was Gavin. Gavin reckons it was a bird. A bird did not plant four straight rows, I can tell you that for nothing."

Gavin, contacted at the garden shed during what he called "a bit of a tidy-up", denied all involvement. "I don't even eat the stuff. Tastes like a wet sock. If I was going to prank someone I'd do it properly — I'd plant parsnips."

A Dunedin City Council spokesperson said community gardens were "self-governing" and the council had "no position on the kale". Pressed further, they added: "We would prefer not to be drawn in."

The kale is still there. A handwritten sign has appeared on the fence reading "TAKE SOME PLEASE", in what committee members agree is not Gavin's handwriting, but is suspiciously close.