Owners sought for lost taonga
A spring clean out at the Wellington Central Police Station has revealed a taonga box containing more than 80 items of ‘‘spiritual significance’’.
Now staff are searching for the owners of the taonga, or treasures, and precious items that have been handed in to the police over the past decade.
Most items in the taonga box are carved pounamu and bone necklaces, but there are also bibles, family photos, rosaries, carved patu and a plastic Jesus.
Police need to find the owners by the end of January or the items will be passed on to churches and master carvers who may return the items to the land.
‘‘About 10 years ago they created a box and just kept them hoping somebody would come and claim them some day,’’ Customer Services Manager Sharon Johnston said.
Standard procedure for lost items handed into the police station was to auction or destroy the property after three months, she said.
But the taonga were kept at the station, and the collection has accumulated over the years.
The station has only basic information on each item, such as ‘‘a carved bone hook with paua found at Wellington Airport Departure lounge in 2005’’.
If you think a long lost heirloom may be at the Police headquarters, contact the station and describe the item or details about when and where it was lost and bring any supporting information.