The Department of Conservation says it is “disappointed” in the theft of a significant macrocarpa bench, the second such incident in as many weeks.
In a post online, the Department of Conservation said the substantial macrocarpa bench had been stolen from the Oparara Valley – a 14km point-to-point trail in the Kahurangi National Park on the West Coast.
“The seat was installed a couple of years ago as part of work to improve the visitor infrastructure in the Oparara,” it said.
“We are keen to see it returned, or any reports of where it might be.”
It followed the theft of a 3m macrocarpa picnic table at another DOC campground in the Wairarapa, which was installed for just two days before most of it was sawn off and stolen.
The table, put in at Bucks Rd Campsite west of Greytown on Tuesday, was found on Thursday with around 2.4m missing – an amount of dressed wood worth an estimated $4000.
Karamea-based supervisor David Guppy said he was disappointed by the theft of the bench.
“We don’t get a lot of that sort of thing in Karamea, which makes this a bit of a notable event.
“This appears to be a premeditated removal requiring a ute or trailer and a couple of strong people and some tools. It’s a pretty lowly act.”
Anyone with information about the theft – or noticing someone with some new garden furniture they shouldn’t have – was urged to call 0800 DOC HOT or the police.
