Pair charged with stealing rare gecko

A man and a woman charged with stealing a gecko from a Christchurch wildlife park have been granted a two-week remand to get legal advice.

The two were arrested last week after three geckos were allegedly found at their home in the Christchurch suburb of Richmond.

Nicholas John Ormandy, 20, an insulation installer, and Sally Somers Stirton, 30, a dancer, are due to appear in court on May 3.

The pair have been jointly charged with stealing a gecko valued at $3000 from Orana Park, a zoo near Christchurch, burgling the zoo, and having in their possession absolutely protected wildlife - three geckos.

It was reported last week that three rare geckos - a rough and two Northland greens - had been snatched from their enclosure at Orana Park on Sunday.

The geckos, part of a breeding programme, were recovered three days after being stolen and returned to their enclosure where security is being upgraded.

- NZPA