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A woman rewarded for her community spirit with a television show garden makeover was devastated when the new plants and ornaments were stolen just a day later.
Nelson woman Trish Moir was nominated for TVNZ's Mucking In show by local police, for her work as a police station volunteer.
A TV crew and team of volunteers, including police, transformed the garden at the weekend. But on Tuesday morning Ms Moir woke to find some of the new items gone, The Nelson Mail reported.
The garden had been given a Thai theme and the stolen items included two small Buddha statues, torches, an incense burner, birdcage and huge water lily bowl.
"I hadn't even looked at them, I hadn't even touched them, I hadn't even enjoyed them," Ms Moir said.
Community constable John O'Donovan, who nominated Ms Moir, said he and other police were incensed by the actions of the "ultra low-life" responsible.
He said the items were easily identifiable and would be found, no matter how long it took.
Mucking In producer Julia Leonard was disappointed to hear of the theft - a first for the show.
- NZPA
