Frankton School caretaker Murray Ivory and Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe are "devastated" at the act that's hindered their chances at April's Great Pumpkin Carnival.

A giant pumpkin Tim Macindoe​ was growing for an upcoming competition has been sabotaged in what he thinks may be a targeted attack.

The Hamilton West MP was devastated to learn the pumpkin he's been nurturing for April's Great Pumpkin Carnival was cut off at the stem.

"It's very, very suspicious," he said.

SUPPLIED Hamilton MPs Jamie Strange and David Bennett deny sabotage.

"It's quite clearly been broken off by somebody, and it's a big mama, I tell you. It would have won the competition, no question."

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The annual Great Pumpkin Carnival features a "friendly competition" among local politicians to see who can grow the best and biggest pumpkin.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Hamilton mayor Andrew King says he had no motive to destroy Macindoe's pumpkin as his own was well on its way to being a winner..

Macindoe​ was up against Hamilton Mayor Andrew King and Hamilton East National MP David Bennett and Hamilton Labour list MP Jamie Strange.

And Macindoe's pointing fingers at them all.

"There's no doubt in my mind it must have been the mayor, and MPs David Bennett and Jamie Strange, who all realised they were going to get walloped in the competition.

"They have conspired to destroy my prize-winning pumpkin. They obviously all got out in the middle of the night with a sickle and all sorts of terrible tools," Macindoe​ said.

"Now, I don't know which one of them sliced it off, but there's no doubt they are all in on it and I'm out for revenge."

Macindoe's​ pumpkin lived in the grounds of Frankton School and it was school caretaker Murray Ivory who discovered the destruction.

"Murray is a lovely guy and he's been working so hard over the Christmas holidays. The kids from the school have been taking care of it. It was a real team effort.

"They're all devastated," Macindoe​ said. "As am I."

The pumpkin was planted in early December and had grown to weigh the same as a bag of cement, he said.

"In all seriousness, if this had kept growing at that rate, it would have won not just the politicians' competition, but it could have been a contender to win one of the top prizes overall.

"This is a serious setback. We're down but not out yet. We'll be back. This is war."

When questioned, Strange had an alibi.

"I was at Ratana Pā, I was there with the Prime Minister."

Strange's own pumpkin is in its early stages and he admits he is not the most experienced grower.

However, he suspects the sabotage is only the latest in a suspicious string of events.

"During the campaign last year, someone reversed into my car and didn't leave a note. So I was going to check the bumpers of my opponents' cars for a little bit of paint ..."

Bennett pointed his finger at King.

"You can always be assured it's the councillor's fault. If ever in doubt, blame the council," he said.

He maintained he did not know the location of Macindoe's​ pumpkin, though he couldn't offer an alibi.

"I'm sure whoever did it, did it for a very good reason," he said.

King couldn't hide his excitement upon hearing about the demise of Macindoe's​ pumpkin.

However, he said he didn't feel the need to jeopardise it.

"Mine is going good. It's bigger than a soccer ball but not as big as the moon yet.

"If he's going to come sabotage mine, make sure he's got a balaclava on, because there's a lot of security at my house."