The Len Lye centre was vandalised over the weekend with someone throwing paint bombs from a car.

Drive by vandals have paint bombed New Zealand's leading contemporary art gallery and its director is out to catch the culprits.

At least two water balloons filled with what looked like white paint were thrown at New Plymouth's Govett-Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre on Saturday night, splattering the pristine stainless steel facade on Devon St West with white dots.

Centre director Simon Rees said he noticed the vandalism he was walking to work on Monday morning.

Len Lye Centre It's believed water balloons filled with white paint were thrown at the Len Lye Centre from this car on Saturday night.

"[There were] little bits of balloon inside it so I realised that somebody had tried to paint bomb the building, more than likely on the weekend," he said.

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Rees said surveillance footage showed a car slowing down "to sling a few paint bombs out the window at the Len Lye Centre" at 11.57pm on Saturday.

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ Len Lye Centre director Simon Rees has reported the incident to police.

"We can identify the make of the car. We're currently working with our security partners Datatalk and the New Zealand police force to identify the number plate on the vehicle and we'll have the police follow through accordingly," Rees said.

"Do this stuff at your own peril. This is a community asset, an important and beloved building of New Plymouth and New Zealand. This will not be tolerated."

Rees said those responsible were not only hurting the gallery but the community as a whole.

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ The footpath and centre's facade need cleaning.

"The building has become a national icon, it's beloved of the people of New Plymouth, it's talked about in the first breath when people are talking about our city now, so they're doing the whole community a disservice when acting like this."

Rees said he was looking to prosecute those involved and hoped footage from security cameras on the Clock Tower and Venture Taranaki headquarters would provide the evidence needed to identify the culprits.

"I've already reported to the police this morning and it will be in their hands to make a discussion on how they proceed, but I'd like to see those people made an example of."

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ Video footage of the drive-by balloon bombing has been passed onto police.

Thankfully the "paint bombs" did not explode on the facade and only splatters hit the famed reflective wall.

"They didn't have the best aim, but the surfaces and the pavement will have to be cleaned as well," Rees said.

"Certainly the prosecution will involve recompense for that cost. It will be up to New Plymouth District Council's city care workers to determine how much.

It's not the first time the gallery has been targeted.

During the construction period paint pellets were fired at the building which prompted the purchase of security camera "to discourage any such action happening again".

Rees said the facade's fabricators Rivet had been called to ensure any cleaning methods employed to get the splatters off didn't damage the surface.