[MSN] New Zealand. Five bronze sculptures have been stolen by thieves who used bolt cutters to break into the Wintergardens Fernery in the Auckland Domain.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Fernery sculptures swiped
5:00AM Wednesday October 10, 2007


Five bronze sculptures have been stolen by thieves who used bolt cutters to
break into the Wintergardens Fernery in the Auckland Domain.

Four of the Greer Twiss sculptures were stolen nine days ago and the fifth
was stolen at the weekend.

They were part of an artwork called Graftings, commissioned to mark the new
millennium and consisting of nine native birds and one pear tree.

The missing sculptures are the morepork, seagull, tui, gannet and pear tree.

Auckland City Council parks services manager Mark Bowater said the thieves
used bolt cutters the first time they broke in and scaled the fence the
second time.

"This is a thoughtless and destructive criminal act. These works of art are
there for the public to enjoy and it's sad and disappointing to find them
stolen," he said. "It's abhorrent to think that someone would carry out such
a pointless act of vandalism that deprives the public of such a beautiful
asset."

He said anyone with information about the theft should call the police.


The remaining sculptures have been removed.

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