Stolen goal post returned to Rotorua Netball

Jessie Wharekura takes a shot with one of the new goal posts at the opening of the refurbished netball courts last year. Photo / File

A goal post stolen from the Rotorua netball courts has been found.

Security cameras captured the theft of the goal post about 2am last Saturday, where a vehicle could be seen backing up to the gate and driving off with the goal post on the back.

Rotorua Netball secretary Mary Thompson said this afternoon the goal post was all in one piece and back on court.

"A member of the public emailed Rotorua Netball to say it had been seen hidden in the bushes outside the Westbrook Tavern."

Thompson appealed to the community for any news of the goal post through the Rotorua Netball Facebook page and the website.

She previously told the Rotorua Daily Post Rotorua Netball would have to fork out an extra $500 for a new goal post before the season starts on April 6, but this is no longer the case.

The posts are locked into the ground but Thompson said there was nothing more she could do to ensure other goal posts were not taken in a similar way.

"They are locked in to the best of our ability.

"It probably wouldn't be all that hard to pull them out, it just needed some brute strength."

The goal posts were the finishing touches on the $1.3 million redevelopment which began in 2018 and was completed on March 14 this year.

The special sporting surface Rebound Ace had been applied to the existing courts and Thompson had informed the public how to care for them, not aware it was the goal posts which would be the problem.

The development was a result of a submission to the 2012-2022 Long-term Plan.