Local woman Lea Craddock's view that a thief has thoroughly inconvenienced Kohukohu is probably about as close as anyone in the Hokianga Harbourside community is going to get to joking about the theft that has put the public toilets out of action.
The toilets were closed, temporarily, after a thief cut through a padlock to get into the pump house last Thursday night and helped themselves to the pump, which was padlocked and chained to the concrete floor. They also cut pipes, draining the 20,000-litre water tank that services the toilets.
Ms Craddock said Kohukohu residents and visitors were grateful that the Far North District Council had responded promptly by delivering a portable toilet, and were anxious that the council did not cop any flak.
"A lot of people immediately blame the council when loos break down," she said, "but it's not always that easy to fix, and never their fault."
Local police officer Jonathan Maoate (phone (09) 405-5894) would be pleased to hear from anyone who knows of the pump's whereabouts.
