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Art thieves have stolen a C F Goldie painting and a set of Colin McCahon manuscripts stolen from Auckland University during the Christmas holiday period.
The Goldie painting, a small oil on canvas portrait of Hori Te Ruinga Pokai, had only recently returned to New Zealand after being in Canada for more than 70 years.
A large unbound copy of the Oxford Lectern Bible and a set of seven Colin McCahon manuscript poems are also missing.
Police appealed to anyone with information about the art works to contact them.
Police estimated the Goldie painting and the Oxford Lectern Bible to be valued in excess of $100,000 each, and the Colin McCahon poems at approximately $7000.
Police said the artefacts were taken from the University Library sometime between December 21 and January 3.
Auckland central police were investigating the burglary and were awaiting results of a forensic examination of the scene, which included fingerprint identification.
Examination of CCTV footage was also taking place.
Police said that the artefacts were not only valuable but well known to dealers in these types of items so would be hard to dispose of.
They asked all dealers to report to them any information they may receive relating to this theft, as well as members of the public who noticed any suspicious activity around the university library in that period.
- NZPA
