[CPProt.net] Maori statue stolen from New Zealand city

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

Maori statue stolen from New Zealand city 

Wellington - A life-size bronze statue of a legendary bare-breasted Maori
young woman known as Pania of the Reef which has been a feature of the New
Zealand city of Napier for 51 years has been stolen, it was reported on
Thursday.

Police said the statue, 1,5m-high and weighing about 70kg, had been jimmied
off its foundations on the Marine Parade of Napier during the night.

Napier is internationally famous as a model art deco city rebuilt after it
was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1931.

Maori legend says Pania was a member of the Sea People living on a reef off
Napier who fell in love with a young chief called Karitoki, but was
eventually compelled to return to her ocean home.

'It is a well-loved piece of art' 
Tony Billing, of the Napier city council, told Radio New Zealand locals were
very angry about the theft.

"It is a well-loved piece of art and has strong ties to the local iwi
(sub-tribe) and to Napier and is basically an icon of the city," he said.

Police suspect it could be a copy cat theft after a valuable bronze
sculpture by famous New Zealand sculptor Paul Dibble was stolen recently
from outside a restaurant at Waikanae, north of Wellington, and then
returned on payment of a ransom.

Billing said the council would not pay a ransom for Pania whose absence had
"left a big void in the landscape". - Sapa-dpa 

 

Published on the Web by IOL on 2005-10-27 00:57:33