Police have recovered a cherished statue of Jesus, more than a decade after it was stolen from a Wellington chapel.
The mahogany statue was stolen from the Futuna Chapel in Karori sometime between 1999 and 2000. It was found on an unoccupied rural property in Ahititi, Taranaki on Wednesday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Warwick McKee said the statue by sculptor Jim Allen holds significant importance to the Catholic community and Wellington as a whole.
The recovery of the statue had delighted the congregation of Futuna Chapel.
"It's expected that the statue will be returned to the Futuna Chapel next week so it can be re-erected in its rightful place on the walls of the chapel."
