Mere stolen from Auckland Museum
A greenstone mere has been stolen from Auckland Museum, prompting a police appeal to track down two men.
Police have released pictures of the men, who they believe could help with their inquiries into the theft of the precious artefact from a secure cabinet on March 6.
A museum spokeswoman said the mere was provenanced to Nga¯ ti Porou.
‘‘The story of the mere is closely related to the carved poutokomanawa [post figure] of Iwirakau which it was displayed next to,’’ she said.
‘‘It is believed that the carved mere that is depicted in the hands of Iwirakau on the pou is the mere that was in the adjacent case. According to the museum records, the mere is named Pokaiwhenua.’’ The museum acquired the mere in 1897.
‘‘Auckland Museum has been in regular communication with the chair of Te Runanga o Nga¯ ti Porou since the theft and we are keeping them informed as the police investigation progresses.’’
The stolen mere is the second publicised art theft in Auckland recently.
On Christmas Day 2018, a 150-kilogram bronze statue called Thinker, worth $55,000, was stolen from outside the Gow Langsford Gallery.