Missing memorial leaves family heartbroken

Heartless thieves have stolen this seat made in memory an 8-year-old boy who died of leukaemia. Photo / Supplied

A distraught Northland family is calling for the return of a seat made in memory of an 8-year-old boy who died of leukaemia.

The seat, made from railway sleepers by the boy's mother, was stolen from a park at the top of Maromaku Hill, near State Highway 1 south of Kawakawa.

Barbara Clark, of Maromaku, said her grandson Jeffrey passed away in 2007 aged 8.

The sturdy seat, with personal messages carved into it, was originally placed in the cemetery but was later moved to the park.

Mrs Clark said a group of caring community workers carried it up a set of steps to "a lovely resting spot" beside a bush walk.

But when she visited the park last Friday she was upset to find only an empty space where the seat had been.

"This isn't something that could have happened easily.

"Someone has to have seen this seat somewhere or been part of its removal," she said.

"This is a sad piece of theft, a very personal item which is priceless to us as a memory of this young man and something we chose to share with our community so that they could take a rest and enjoy a view, something our grandson cannot do."

She urged the thieves to return the seat and anyone who knew where it was to call Kawakawa police on (09) 404 3150.

Anonymous tips can be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The park in Callaghan Rd with impressive views of the Maromaku and Motatau Valleys has been set up by volunteers.