KEY POINTS:
Five bronze sculptures have been stolen by thieves who used bolt cutters to break into the Wintergardens Fernery in the Auckland Domain.
Four of the Greer Twiss sculptures were stolen nine days ago and the fifth was stolen at the weekend.
They were part of an artwork called Graftings, commissioned to mark the new millennium and consisting of nine native birds and one pear tree.
The missing sculptures are the morepork, seagull, tui, gannet and pear tree.
Auckland City Council parks services manager Mark Bowater said the thieves used bolt cutters the first time they broke in and scaled the fence the second time.
"This is a thoughtless and destructive criminal act. These works of art are there for the public to enjoy and it's sad and disappointing to find them stolen," he said. "It's abhorrent to think that someone would carry out such a pointless act of vandalism that deprives the public of such a beautiful asset."
He said anyone with information about the theft should call the police.
The remaining sculptures have been removed.
- NZPA