Two Christchurch traders are selling their small Moeraki boulders which have been in the family for years.
They're part of East Otago's biggest tourist attraction, where hundreds stop off at each day to check out the world-famous spherical boulders.
There used to be a lot littering the beach, but many were taken away as souvenirs or garden ornaments. One large boulder was even transported to Otago Museum and laws were changed.
Part of Koekohe beach was protected as a scientific reserve in 1971, making it illegal to damage, graffiti, or remove any of the boulders from the beach.
One of the mini boulders for sale has been in the family of Christchurch second-hand dealer Lenny Wills for over a century and used to be a doorstop. But since listing it on auction site TradeMe, he's been criticised by people who think it should be returned.
"I don't really reply to anybody who says 'take it back to the beach'. But if I was to I'd say, you can pack up all your kauri floorboards and take them back to the forest too," says Mr Wills.
There's currently two different auctions for mini boulders but neither have any bids.
Local Maori say boulders passed down through families are genuine keepsakes or taonga, but Upoko David Higgins believes selling them on is in bad taste.
"That should be yours and your families for as long as you want to keep it. But if you want to return them, return them to where you found them on the beach, and try not to sell them," he says.
It's thought some small boulders are still being removed from the beach, something that doesn't impress tourists.
"They belong to the nation and they're just so unique. Why would you want to take it away and spoil it?" says English tourist Phillip Nettleton.
Visitors are being reminded of the old saying 'leave only footprints and take only pictures'.
3 News
source: newshub archive
