KEY POINTS:
Low rainfall on Waiheke Island has led to a new crime - water thefts.
The contents of Waiheke Kindergarten's big tanks have been stolen four times this year and on Thursday an Ostend resident reported a full 10,000-litre tank being drained overnight.
With only 2mm of rainfall this month, water tanker companies have a week's backlog of orders to refill tanks. It costs about $240 to buy 10,000 litres from a tanker company.
"Water seems to be getting as precious as wine," joked a resident, whose home borders the island's cluster of vineyards.
But it was no laughing matter at the kindergarten. It relies on donations and the water bill has come out of money for equipment and toys.
Waiheke police said a 22-year-old man pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court this week to stealing the water.
He was sentenced to 80 hours' community service and ordered to pay $820 to the kindergarten.
Police said he left a damning trail of evidence.
One morning he slept in and a hose was still siphoning water from the kindergarten tap to his tank when staff arrived.
