Staff at Waikumete Cemetery in west Auckland say the attacks on around 10 graves appear to be a random act of vandalism.
The graves include those of MMA fighter Fau Vake and his father, as well as teenage filmmaker Cameron Duncan.
But Auckland Council does not believe the attack was targeted.
Fau Vake's family lost him to a coward's punch and now there's been an astounding low blow: his grave and that of his father, desecrated.
"It's not as if in our case we don't already have enough trauma around there but you know we've just got to move on and hope people make better choices when they're getting drunk or intoxicated," City Kickboxing coach Michael Angrove said.
The attack drew poignant parallels with the drunken punch that ended Vake's life.
"That's the reason that Fau is sadly where he is. It was someone else that couldn't make a good choice around alcohol, intoxication and aggression.
So I guess it's a very sad but timely reminder of that as we head into New Year's Eve," Angrove said.
Also a victim was the grave of teenage filmmaker Cameron Duncan, who was referenced in an Oscar-winning speech and had a studio named after him after his death from cancer two decades ago.
In all around 10 graves were vandalised in what Auckland Council insists were random attacks.
Graves were vandalised in a urupa section of Waikumete Cemetery but they were at opposite ends and there were also graves vandalised elsewhere in the cemetery.
Police say they've undertaken a scene examination since last week's attacks and enquiries are ongoing.
Cemetery staff have tidied the site and posted a sign saying they've removed ornaments for safe-keeping.
