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Auckland Council will seek to have a new memorial plaque manufactured after one was stolen from Parry Kauri Park.
The plaque commemorated the passing of Stuart McKinney, a descendant of Rev Robert McKinny, who formerly owned the land where Parry Kauri Park is located.
All the plaques were removed during the first stage of construction of a deck and boardwalk at the park, which was completed last month.
Members of The Kauri and Native Bushmen’s Association – dedicated to making improvements at the park – believed the plaque had been lost in the process and began making enquiries with Warkworth Museum and Mahurangi Matters to see if anybody might remember the exact wording on the plaque and if a photograph was available so that a replacement could be made.
But Council spokesperson Darren Kalka says the plaque had in fact been reinstalled, but was stolen one day later.
“We suspect it was for scrap metal because it was made from brass,” Mr Kalka says.
Fortunately, a photograph of the plaque was taken before it was removed during construction works.
Council plans to use the photograph to reinstall a replica plaque with stronger lugs so that it is more difficult to remove in future.
