'Rough sleeper' finds Erebus book in cemetery

The theft was captured on CCTV.

A memorial book for victims of the Mt Erebus air disaster was returned to St Matthew In The City church, in downtown Auckland, after being found a couple of kilometres away in a rubbish bag.

"Andrew, a rough sleeper who is a client of the City Mission, found the book discarded in a trash bag in the Jewish section of the historic cemetery on Karangahape Road near Symonds St," church associate priest for communications Clay Nelson said.

"He wasn't sure at first what he had found but seeing the reference to St Matthew's thought it might belong here. He had not heard the news reports of its loss.

"He was delighted to be able to return an important part of New Zealand history to the church. Like all New Zealanders he was deeply affected at the time by the Erebus tragedy."

The book was put together for a memorial service for the 257 people who lost their lives in the Air New Zealand plane crash on Mt Erebus, Antarctica on November 28, 1979.

The leather-bound book contains the names of all the victims in calligraphic writing.

It was taken from inside a glass case which enclosed it about 12.20pm on Tuesday by a male wearing a denim jacket, jeans and a cap worn backwards.

"We are relieved that the book has not been damaged in any way," Mr Nelson said.

"Once we are assured that it can be properly secured it will be once again be put on display."

- NZPA