A $50,000 bronze sculpture has been vandalised and pieces of it stolen from the Auckland Botanic Gardens, the council said on Thursday.
Micheline Newton, manager of visitor services at the gardens in Manurewa, said the thieves took small bronze pieces and copper pipes from the sculpture overnight on December 30.
She said the next day staff found seven large pieces, hidden under nearby plants.
"We think whoever targeted this artwork may have intended returning the following night to take these large pieces as well," Newton said.
It's the latest attack on council assets after bilingual English-Te Reo signage was defaced in three reserves in Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Ao News reported on Thursday.
The missing bronze pieces from the art piece, called 'Reservoirs', have a distinctive engraved check pattern.
Created by Richard Mathieson, a south-Auckland based artist, Reservoirs is a solar-powered water feature created for the Sculpture in the Gardens Exhibition in 2021 and 2022.
Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens (FABG) later bought it and gifted the bronze artwork to Tāmaki Makaurau.
It's not the gardens' first theft. Bronze plaques were stolen in December, while valuable plants are often stolen.
Also in December, a building on adjacent land recently purchased by the gardens had its internal fittings stripped clean.
"It's disappointing, given all the hard work staff dedicate to ensure these facilities are maintained to such a high standard," said Newton.
Viv Canham, president of Friends of the Auckland Botanic Gardens (FABG), said it'll cost thousands to restore the sculpture.
"It's an incredibly saddening loss – Aucklanders and visitors to our city will miss out, while staff at the Gardens have been dealt yet another blow," Canham said.
Anyone with information about the vandalism or theft is urged to contact either Police, or Auckland Botanic Gardens (09 267 1457), otherwise Auckland Council (09 301 0101) after-hours. People can also report information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers (0800 555 111).
