Statue theft could be copycat

The taking of Napier's iconic Pania of the reef statue could be a copycat theft.

The statute, which has graced Napier's waterfront for more than fifty years, was reported missing yesterday morning, having been stolen overnight. It has still not been found.

Earlier this month a large bronze sculpture weighing more than a tonne was stolen from outside a restaurant at Waikanae, 60km north-east of Wellington, then anonymously returned after money was paid.

Napier Detective John McGregor said police could not rule out the possibility the theft of Pania was the work of copycats looking for a ransom.

"It's certainly a possibility (but) I hope not. It may happen and if that's the case we certainly want to get hold of these idiots and not bow to their demands, otherwise it just encourages further offenders to do the same thing."

National's Napier MP Chris Tremain said it was highly possible it was a copycat theft.

Labour list MP and former Napier electorate MP Russell Fairbrother had suggested raising a ransom to secure Pania's return but would only do so working in conjunction with police, he said today.

He doubted the thieves would be enjoying the prospect of a ransom.

"They'd have to go through the police and I think the police would dampen their enthusiasm for any pleasure of it," Mr Fairbrother told National Radio.

"But the real thing is to get the public to realise the importance, as we do in Napier, of this statue," he said.


He later explained he meant reward, not ransom. 

The statue may be turned into scrap metal, police say.

Mr McGregor said there had been no new developments overnight, but police hoped information on Pania's whereabouts would come in this morning.

"There's a possibility it may be sold as scrap metal, so any scrap metal merchants, we'd certainly like them to come to us if they do hear of it or see it," he told National Radio.

The missing statue was thought to weigh around 60-70kg.

Napier Maori leaders deplored the theft of the iconic statue and urged those responsible to give it back.

Tipu Tareha, deputy chairman of Napier area Maori authority Te Taiwhenua o Te Whanganui a Orotu and from Ngati Parau, the hapu with mana over the area of the Pania legend, said no one had any idea of why the statue had been taken.

But he believed it was more likely to have a political slant than be motivated by the financial benefit of casting the icon off as scrap.

"It was a bit of a shock," he said.

- NZPA, HAWKE'S BAY TODAY