The stolen statue of Lord Ernest Rutherford has been found by police and will return to its bronze boots after they were left behind in the robbery.
The statue of legendary scientist Lord Ernest Rutherford was stolen in the small South Island community of Brightwater, near Nelson on Friday.
The late-night heist was caught on camera. The determined thief turned up on a bike armed with a rope and spent half an hour rocking the statue back and forth until it snapped, they took off leaving behind its pair of bronze boots.
The theft of Rutherford shocked the Brightwater community over the weekend, but the Council is happy to have him back.
"We are pretty pleased for the community that it's back in its rightful place," A Tasman District council spokesperson told Newshub.
They added Rutherford will be reinstated later this week.
