Man convicted of stealing valuable stuffed huia
A man has been convicted of stealing a prized stuffed huia from a Tararua museum.
Dean Bradley Mudgway appeared in the Dannevirke District Court, before Judge Lance Rowe, yesterday.
He pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the stolen bird, plus the theft of a trailer and an electric fence, and will reappear in court for sentencing on June 4.
The stuffed huia is an historic treasure, worth thousands of dollars, and hasn’t been seen since it was taken from a locked display case at the Dannevirke Gallery of History last July .
The last confirmed sighting of a live huia in New Zealand was 114 years ago, and two stuffed ones, a male and the stolen female, were donated to the Gallery of History after being mounted as a wedding gift.
Cordy’s fine art and antique auctioneer Ross Millar told Stuff that huia were rare collector’s items worth $8,000 to $10,000 a piece, although they could sell for much more at auction or as a matched male and female set.
A female was auctioned off at $31,500 in Wellington and a matched pair in good condition could be valued at as much as $60,000.
Even a single huia feather could sell for over $1000, he said.
There was some confusion in court over whether the huia had been returned, and a police sergeant said if it had, the police were not aware of it. When Stuff later checked with the museum, staff confirmed the valuable bird was still missing. Judge Rowe advised Mudgway to approach the restorative justice meetings prior to his sentencing in good faith, and use them to organise the return of the huia if he knew where it was.
‘‘I hope you take the chance to make things right, especially with the museum.’’
Mudgway was also awaiting sentencing on eight other charges, including drug offences, shoplifting, possessing an offensive weapon and making threats.
These were only briefly touched on during his appearance, and defence counsel Clifford Church said Mudgway had previously entered pleas on all other charges he was facing.