Wellington's BMX and skating communities are angry after a "substantial stockpile" of mats were stolen from Ian Galloway Park, the city council says.
Social media posts allege the stolen mats match the description of ones pictured at the anti-COVID vaccine mandate protest site outside Parliament, now in its ninth day. The mats, donated to the skate park by the local BMX Club, were apparently due to be laid around the edges of the skate park's ramps.
"That is definitely them," one Twitter user responded to an image of the rubber mats on the protest grounds.
"They were acquired at great effort and cost by local skaters," another said.
However, the police nor the Wellington City Council have been able to verify the allegations. A council spokesman confirmed to Newshub the mats were stolen and they are appealing for information.
"We can confirm that a substantial stockpile of the 50cmx50cm mats were stolen from the BMX/skatepark at Ian Galloway Park sometime over the weekend," the spokesman said. "Of course, we can't prove who took them but we'd love to hear from anyone who has information.
"If the mats are now at Parliament then we'll be seeking to retrieve them at the end of the occupation - the local Karori skater and BMX communities are really angry at what's happened."
Police said they were aware of a complaint regarding the missing rubber matting but did not provide further comment.
