Scavengers damage wreck

Scavengers have already taken to a 153-year-old shipwreck with a chainsaw, despite warnings to stay away.

A New Zealand Defence Force spokesperson said the theft occurred right after archaeologists visited the site at Muriwai beach, northwest Auckland, on May 27.

‘‘Overnight Tuesday the stern handrail and a large portion of the front rigging of the wreck were removed by chainsaw,’’ the spokesperson said.

The wreck is the Daring – a schooner driven ashore in a gale in 1865.

A Muriwai resident who visited the site on May 30 said the rear end of the ship was removed because it had kauri art work.

Even when a team of archaeologists first visited the site, the wreck had already been preyed upon by scavengers.

Auckland Council heritage unit principal specialist Robert Brassey said it was ‘‘astounding’’ that someone would damage a historic site.

‘‘Several deck planks and a section of railing have been removed.’’

NZDF has warned people to stay away from the site at all times.

The wreck is protected under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act. Any person damaging or destroying any part of the wreck or wreck site is liable to a fine of up to $60,000.

NZDF have stepped up security on the site and a protection unit was providing a cordon from May 31.

‘‘The wreck is in the New Zealand Defence Force Kaipara Air Weapons Range, where the public are banned 24/7,’’ NZDF said.

The wreck was discovered by a Muriwai local on May 27, uncovered by shifting sands.

‘‘There have been elevated high tides recently which explains why such a substantial wreck that has been buried for many years has become exposed like this,’’ Brassey said.

‘‘It may well get covered up again.’’ The 17-metre-long schooner was a two-masted ship carrying a cargo of grass seed when it was driven on to the beach near South Head on the Kaipara Harbour. It had been built two years earlier in Mangawhai and was owned by David Kirkwood of Onehunga.